Also called: Expedition Guide, Lecturer
Guides passengers to see penguins, whales, and glaciers on expedition ships to Alaska, Antarctica, and the Arctic.
Naturalists give lectures, drive Zodiac boats to shore landings, and lead hikes among wildlife. Many are biologists, geologists, or historians.
Estimate; seasonal contracts.
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 or master's in a natural science plus Zodiac driving and guiding experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Geology, Environmental Science.
Growing faster than average. Expedition cruising is growing fast.
Low risk for 10 years. AI can give fact talks, but driving Zodiacs and leading landings among penguins stay in-person guiding.
Classes: AP Biology, Earth science, Speech.
Official data: O*NET occupation 25-9099.
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.