Also called: Underwater Acoustics Researcher
Studies the sounds whales, dolphins, and fish make, and how human noise affects them.
Drops underwater microphones off a boat, analyzes months of recordings for whale songs, and advises the Navy and shipping companies on how to reduce noise harm.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 7 years after high school. Master's or PhD in marine biology, acoustics, or engineering.
Ways in: Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Biology, Fisheries Science, Biology, Oceanography, Physics, Electrical Engineering.
Growing about average. Small field.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI now finds whale calls in huge audio files, cutting manual listening; designing studies and deploying hydrophones stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Biology, Computer science, Music theory.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1023.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.