Also called: Shellfish Program Specialist, Shellfish Growing Area Inspector
Tests coastal water and oysters for bacteria and toxins and decides which beds are safe to harvest, closing them after storms or red tides.
Heavy rain fell last night, so you boat out to sample water at 20 stations in an oyster bay. Back at the lab, results show high bacteria near a creek mouth, so you close that area to harvesting. You also inspect a shucking plant to check its records and coolers.
State government pay; varies by state.
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 biology, environmental science or public health.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Environmental Science, Public Health, Marine Science.
Growing about average. Every coastal state that sells shellfish must run this program.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Sensors and models help predict risk, but sampling and official closure decisions stay human.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4042.
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.