Also called: Otolith Technician, Age and Growth Technician
Figures out the age of fish by counting growth rings in their ear bones (otoliths), like tree rings.
Slices tiny fish ear stones thin enough to see through, counts the rings under a microscope, and feeds the ages into stock assessments that set fishing limits.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in fisheries or biology; on-the-job training.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Fisheries Science, Biology.
Growing about average. Steady at NOAA and state labs.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI image tools are learning to count otolith growth rings, the core of the job; fewer human readers will be needed.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Statistics, Computer science, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4021.
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.