Marine Geologist

Also called: Geological Oceanographer

Maps and studies the seafloor, underwater volcanoes, and sediments.

A day in the life

You map the seafloor with sonar, pull up mud cores that record Earth's history, and study undersea earthquakes and volcanoes.

Pay over a career

Starting
$60k
Typical
$98k
High
$160k

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. Master's or PhD in geology or oceanography.

Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Geology, Oceanography, Geophysics.

Outlook

Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Growth is for geoscientists overall.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Autonomous mapping boats and AI speed seafloor surveys; coring and interpreting Earth history stay human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Earth science, AP Physics, AP Chemistry.

Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2042.

More Oceanography careers

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.