Oceanographer

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Work Tasks

• Study the ocean by looking at water movement, the sea floor, coastline, plant and animal life, and how the ocean reacts with the environment
• Collect life from different parts of the ocean and study it
• Make maps of the ocean floor and look for signs of earthquakes
• Study currents, erosion, wind speed, chemical make-up, and effects of pollution
• Work inside and outside for the government, aquatic research stations, oil and gas companies, private industry, fishery labs, universities, and the military
• Work with data on ocean activity, samples of plant and animal life, remote sensing devices, lab equipment, maps, charts, tables, reports, special cameras, sounding devices, computers, and data from satellites

Salary, Size & Growth

• $76,000 average per year ($36.50 per hour)
• A medium occupation (30,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.8% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in oceanography
• Employers Prefer: A Ph.D. degree
• Skills/Courses: College courses include geology, biology, chemistry, math, physics, computer science, oceanography, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Scuba diving and a foreign language may be needed.