Also called: Fishery Biologist, Aquatic Biologist
Studies fish populations in rivers, lakes, and oceans to manage fishing and protect species like salmon.
You wade into a stream in waders with an electrofishing backpack that stuns fish briefly so you can measure and tag them. You might count salmon at a dam's fish ladder or set fishing regulations for a state's lakes.
Zoologists and wildlife biologists.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 5 years after high school. Bachelor's in fisheries or wildlife biology; master's common for advancement.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Fisheries Science, Fisheries & Wildlife, Biology, Marine Biology.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Zoologists and wildlife biologists.
Low risk for 10 years. AI sonar and camera tools count fish faster; field sampling and management decisions stay human.
Classes: Biology, Statistics, Chemistry.
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.