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ANZSCO 2342Skill level 1Science and environment

Marine biologist

Study marine ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture, often within universities, CSIRO or state fisheries agencies.

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Salary

Cited figures from Job Outlook and QILT. ExamExplained does not publish predictive earnings or projections.

FigureAUDSource
Full-time weekly earnings$1900Job Outlook (2025-06-01)

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What a marine biologist actually does

Marine biologists move between sea-going fieldwork, lab work and writing. Field trips can mean days or weeks on a research vessel, dive boat or remote coastal station, doing transects, deploying acoustic receivers, trawling for samples, taking water samples or running underwater visual censuses. Sea days start early, sit on the boat's roster, and can stretch to 12 hours with hot, wet and physical conditions. Back on land, the focus moves to lab analysis (genetics, isotopes, otolith ageing), running models in R or Python, and writing for peer-reviewed journals and management reports. Most marine biologists are based at a university, CSIRO or state fisheries agency along the coast (Hobart, Townsville, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide). Hours sit around 38 to 40 a week in government and CSIRO, with routine spikes during field seasons and proposal deadlines. Research and post-doc roles often run on fixed-term contracts tied to grants or to specific surveys.

Typical tasks

  • Conduct field surveys at sea.
  • Analyse population and ecosystem data.
  • Publish research and advise policy.

Skills you'll use

  • SCUBA diving certified to scientific or commercial standards
  • Boat handling, sea safety and seasickness tolerance
  • Field sampling using trawls, nets, acoustic telemetry, eDNA and water chemistry
  • Statistical modelling in R, with packages for ecology and fisheries
  • GIS and spatial analysis using ArcGIS or QGIS
  • Reading and writing for peer-reviewed journals and fisheries policy briefs
  • Working safely on remote vessels and at sea for extended periods

How to become one

  1. 1Finish Year 12 with English, Biology, Chemistry and Maths Methods or Advanced
  2. 2Complete a 3-year Bachelor of Science (marine science, marine biology, zoology, or ecology major), or a Bachelor of Marine Science at JCU, UTAS or Flinders
  3. 3Gain practical sea-going and field experience via volunteer programs, summer scholarships, or assistant roles with Reef HQ, AIMS or state agencies
  4. 4Add an Honours year (1 year research project plus thesis), since most marine research and consultant roles in Australia assume Honours
  5. 5Apply for graduate or research-assistant roles with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, state fisheries (NSW DPI, Fisheries QLD, DPIRD WA) or consultancies, or move into a PhD for research-led careers
  6. 6Complete a PhD (3-4 years) if you plan to lead research, work as a senior CSIRO or AIMS scientist, or move into a university academic role

Where you can work

  • Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville and Perth
  • CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere (Hobart, Perth, Brisbane)
  • State fisheries agencies (NSW DPI, Fisheries Queensland, DPIRD WA, PIRSA, IMAS Tasmania)
  • Universities with marine programs (JCU, UTAS, Flinders, UWA, USC)
  • Parks Australia and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
  • Aquaculture companies (salmon in Tasmania, prawns and barramundi in northern Australia)
  • Environmental consultancies advising port, oil and gas, and renewables clients

Career progression

Typical stages and salary bands. Salary figures are sourced from Job Outlook, QILT or industry bodies; brackets are 25th-75th percentile not absolute floors or ceilings.

  1. Graduate
    0-2 years
    Typical roles: Research assistant, Marine field technician, Fisheries observer
    Salary band: $60,000 - $78,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  2. PhD candidate
    0-4 years
    Typical roles: PhD student on stipend, Research scholar
    Salary band: $32,000 - $42,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  3. Postdoc or fisheries scientist
    3-7 years post-PhD
    Typical roles: Postdoctoral fellow, Fisheries scientist, Marine ecologist
    Salary band: $90,000 - $115,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  4. Senior scientist
    8-15 years
    Typical roles: Senior research scientist, Principal fisheries scientist, Lecturer
    Salary band: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  5. Principal scientist or Professor
    15+ years
    Typical roles: Principal research scientist, Associate professor, Lab or program head

Is this for you?

You might love this if

  • You are happy spending weeks at sea or in remote coastal stations
  • You are SCUBA-comfortable and ready to certify to scientific diving standards
  • You enjoy a mix of fieldwork, lab work and writing
  • You are comfortable with long-tail study (Honours and probably a PhD)
  • You are willing to take fixed-term, grant-dependent contracts early on

This might not suit you if

  • You get seasick or are uncomfortable on small vessels
  • You want a high starting salary straight out of a 3-year degree
  • You want to live and work in a major capital city away from the coast
  • You dislike statistical analysis or long-form scientific writing

Three ways in

Uni, TAFE and trade routes for marine biologist. Not every career has all three; we only list pathways that actually lead to this occupation.

University

Bachelor degrees that lead to this career.

TAFE / VET

Nationally accredited Certificate and Diploma qualifications.

No direct TAFE pathway to this career.

Apprenticeship trade

Earn while you learn through an Australian Apprenticeship.

Not an apprenticeship trade.

Sources

ExamExplained does not publish predictive salary figures. For current Australian earnings data check Job Outlook directly. Career classifications follow the ABS ANZSCO 2022 release.