Also called: Plankton Ecologist
Studies the tiny plankton and food webs that power life in the open ocean.
Biological oceanographers tow nets, filter seawater, and use microscopes and DNA tools to see how plankton, which produce about half the oxygen we breathe, are changing.
Long training places this in the top tier; pay is more modest than other top roles.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in biological oceanography or marine biology for research careers.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Biology, Oceanography, Biology.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI imaging now counts plankton automatically; designing studies, sampling at sea and building food-web ideas stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1023.
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.