Also called: Aquarium Keeper
Cares for fish, invertebrates, and other aquatic animals at an aquarium.
Aquarists prepare food, feed animals, clean and dive in exhibits, monitor water quality, and quarantine new arrivals. Some specialize in jellyfish, corals, or sharks.
Pay is modest relative to the degree; passion drives most aquarists.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in marine biology typically preferred; scuba certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Biology, Biology, Aquaculture.
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Feeding, cleaning, diving in exhibits and quarantining animals is hands-on care that robots can't do.
Classes: AP Biology, Chemistry, Physical education and swimming.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-2021.
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.