Also called: Freshwater Ecologist, Lake Scientist
Studies lakes, rivers, and wetlands: their chemistry, plankton, fish, and toxic algae blooms.
You take a boat onto a lake, lower instruments to measure oxygen and temperature at different depths, and collect plankton with a fine net. You might be predicting toxic algae blooms that could close beaches or contaminate drinking water.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's or PhD in limnology, aquatic ecology, or environmental science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology.
Growing about average.
Low risk for 10 years. Buoy sensors and AI spot algae blooms sooner; sampling lakes and doing the research stay human.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1029.
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.