Written by Dr. Tanya Lubansky, Baccalaureate Adjunct Instructor
This past summer, I helped tag fin whales off the coast of Maine, fitting four-inch satellite transmitters onto the dorsal fins of animals that can weigh 70 tons and outswim most research boats. Getting within ten meters of a whale that size takes patience and a steady hand. Understanding where it goes once it disappears below the surface for the winter takes something else entirely, since we still do not fully know the migration patterns of the second largest animal on the planet. That gap in knowledge is what pulled me into this field twenty years ago, and it is still what gets me out of bed.
If a question like that interests you more than it frustrates you, you are probably already asking the questions this article is built to answer: what a marine biologist actually does, what it takes to become one, and whether it is a career worth building a degree around. Here is what the field looks like today, from someone who works in it.
Curious whether this could be your path? Unity Environmental University’s M.S. in Marine Conservation Biology is built for exactly this kind of curiosity. The program pairs applied research training with a fully remote learning format designed for working adults who want to move into marine science without putting their careers or families on hold.
What Does a Marine Biologist Actually Do?
Marine biology is the study of ocean life and the systems that sustain it, everything from microscopic plankton to the whales I track every summer. Ask ten marine biologists what a typical day looks like and you will get ten different answers: some spend most of their time on a boat, some spend it in a lab running samples, and a growing number spend it in front of a screen making sense of data those instruments send back. What ties the work together, whatever the setting, is that it is less about narrating nature documentaries and considerably more about using tools that let researchers reach places humans cannot.
The modern marine biologist’s toolkit would have looked like science fiction a generation ago:
| Tool | What It Does |
| Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) | Self-guided systems that collect seafloor and water column data without a human pilot |
| Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) | Surface-controlled machines equipped with cameras and sampling tools for depths people cannot reach |
| Acoustic and optical sensors | Instruments that map underwater terrain, track marine mammals by sound, and measure water clarity |
| Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling | A non-invasive method that detects species from genetic material left behind in seawater |
In 2020, NOAA researchers used an ROV to collect an abyssal ctenophore jellyfish and matched its DNA to a specimen first documented in 1910, closing a century-old mystery in a single dive. That is what the job looks like now. Less time waiting for a rare animal to reappear, more time using technology to find answers faster.
It also means the field has room for people who do not fit the old image of a marine biologist standing on a boat deck. Data analysts, conservation strategists, and policy specialists all have a place in this work now, which raises the more practical question most people actually want answered: how do you get from being curious about this field to actually working in it.
How to Become a Marine Biologist
There is no single door into this field, but there is a well-worn path, and most of us who work in it walked some version of it. Here is what that usually looks like:
- A bachelor’s degree in marine biology, biology, or a related environmental science, ideally with laboratory and fieldwork components
- Hands-on experience through internships, research assistantships, or volunteer fieldwork
- A master’s degree for research leadership, conservation program management, or advanced technical roles
- A Ph.D. for anyone who wants to direct an independent research program
The good news is you do not have to map out all four steps before you take the first one. A bachelor’s degree, such as Unity’s B.S. in Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture, is usually enough to land an entry-level field and lab work and start figuring out which corner of the ocean actually holds your interest. When you are ready to go further, whether that means designing your own research, leading conservation strategy, or shaping policy, a graduate degree like Unity’s MS in Marine Conservation Biology fills in what most entry-level jobs never teach you on the ground: applied research methods, real data analysis, and the conservation policy know-how that turns fieldwork into influence. And if it turns out your curiosity points more toward land than sea, our breakdown of how to become a certified wildlife biologist covers a very similar path.
What Can You Do With a Marine Biology Degree?
A marine biology degree opens more doors than most people expect, and they are not all in a lab coat.
| Career Path | What They Do | Typical Setting |
| Marine Conservation Biologist | Design and lead conservation strategies for protected species and habitats | Nonprofits, government agencies |
| Fisheries Biologist | Monitor fish populations and advise on sustainable harvest limits | State and federal agencies |
| Marine Research Scientist | Design studies, collect data with AUVs, ROVs, and sensors, and publish findings | Universities, research institutes |
| Aquarium or Zoo Biologist | Care for and study marine species under professional care | Aquariums, zoos |
| Environmental Consultant | Assess marine ecosystem impact for coastal development and energy projects | Consulting firms |
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, zoologists and wildlife biologists, the closest category the agency tracks that includes marine biologists, earned a median annual wage of $76,780. Employment in the field is projected to grow 4% between 2025 and 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with roughly 1,400 openings projected each year. That is not explosive growth, but it is steady, and it tends to track conservation funding and coastal development rather than swing wildly from year to year.
So is marine biology a good career? That depends on what you are optimizing for. It is rarely a fast track to a high starting salary. It is a strong choice if you want work that combines fieldwork, data analysis, and a direct line to conservation outcomes, and if you are comfortable building expertise over a decade rather than a single year.
Which Colleges Offer Marine Biology, and What Should You Look For?
Not every program that lists “marine biology” delivers the same experience, and the differences tend to show up long after enrollment, not before it. A few things worth checking before you commit to a school:
- Instructors and subject-matter experts who are still doing fieldwork, not just teaching from a textbook written a decade ago
- Real exposure to the technology, since AUVs, ROVs, and sensor data are now standard tools, not electives
- A delivery format that fits your life, especially if you are balancing a degree with a job or family
- A clear bridge from coursework to career, whether that is a research capstone, an internship placement, or direct ties to conservation organizations
Unity Environmental University builds its marine biology and conservation training around those same priorities, at both levels of study:
- B.S. in Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture, for students starting out
- M.S. in Marine Conservation Biology, for those ready to lead research and conservation work
You can see how the graduate program is structured in this program overview, or what it looks like on the other side of the degree in Loma Jones’s story about her path since graduating.
Breaking In: Practical First Steps Toward a Marine Biology Career
You do not need a research vessel to get started, and most people in this field did not have one either. What you need is a track record of showing up for the work, which can start even before anyone is paying you to do it.
A few realistic entry points:
- Volunteer with a local watershed or coastal monitoring program
- Join a citizen science project that collects real oceanographic or species data
- Pursue an internship with a state fisheries department, aquarium, or environmental nonprofit. NOAA Fisheries profiles the range of science careers available across the agency, including fisheries biology and marine mammal research
- Get comfortable with the data side of the field. Our piece on how marine biologists use data and scientific analysis to save the oceans walks through what that work actually looks like
- Compare programs carefully before committing, weighing curriculum, research focus, and how much fieldwork or technology training is genuinely built in
Every marine biologist I know can point to one of these as the entry point that made the rest of the path feel possible. If marine invasive species or ocean climate impacts interest you specifically, our related pieces on marine invasive species and climate change and our oceans are worth a read next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marine Biology A Good Career? It offers steady, not explosive, job growth (4% projected through 2035, per the BLS) and a median wage around $76,780. It is a strong fit if you value fieldwork, data-driven conservation work, and long-term expertise over a fast climb in salary.
Is Marine Biology The Same As Marine Conservation Biology? Not exactly. Marine biology is the broader study of ocean life. Marine conservation biology applies that science specifically to protecting species, habitats, and ecosystems, often blending research with policy and management work.
Do You Need A Master’s Degree To Work In Marine Biology? Not for every role. A bachelor’s degree can lead to entry-level field and lab positions. A master’s degree, like Unity’s MS in Marine Conservation Biology, is typically needed for research leadership, conservation program management, and most policy-facing roles.
What Skills Matter Most For Marine Biologists? Strong field research and lab skills, comfort with data analysis and modern instrumentation such as AUVs, ROVs, and acoustic or eDNA sensors, and increasingly, the ability to translate scientific findings into conservation or policy recommendations.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Marine Biologist? A bachelor’s degree takes about four years. Most people spend one to three years gaining fieldwork or research experience before or during a master’s program, which typically adds another one to two years.
