Explores the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean and discovers creatures no one has ever seen.
Watches live video from a robot submarine two miles down, directs its arm to grab a glowing jellyfish, and names a new species months later.
Estimate; research institutes like MBARI, Woods Hole.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in marine biology or oceanography.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Biology, Oceanography, Biology.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Estimate; very small field.
Low risk for 10 years. Robot subs and AI video tagging do the diving, but piloting expeditions and discovering species stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, Chemistry, AP Physics.
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.