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Marine Biologist

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Primary Secondary Post-16

Imagine spending your days exploring the amazing underwater world, full of colourful fish, giant whales, and tiny creatures you never knew existed! That is what a Marine Biologist does. They are like detectives of the ocean, studying all the plants and animals that live in the sea, from the warm waters around our coasts to the very deep, dark parts of the ocean. They want to understand how these creatures live, what they eat, and how they interact with each other and their environment. Sometimes they go on special boats to collect samples, or they might even dive into the sea themselves to watch the animals up close. They also help to protect our oceans and the wonderful creatures in them from things like pollution, making sure the sea stays healthy for everyone. They might spend time in a laboratory looking at samples under a microscope, or writing reports about their discoveries to share with others. It is a super exciting job for someone who loves the sea and all its secrets!

Marine Biologist

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📊 Statistics

Starting Salary

For someone just starting as a Marine Biologist in the UK, they might earn around 18,000 to 25,000 pounds a year. As they get more experience, this can go up a lot!

Experienced Salary

Marine Biologists with lots of experience, perhaps leading projects or doing special research, can earn between 30,000 and 50,000 pounds a year, or even more for very senior roles.

Number of Jobs

While it is a very interesting job, there are not as many Marine Biologist jobs as some other careers. Many work for universities, government agencies, or special wildlife charities across the UK.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Dolphin Trainer

Imagine playing with and teaching clever dolphins all sorts of tricks, like jumping high and waving their fins. You'd make sure they are healthy and happy, and help people learn all about them at a special park.

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Coral Reef Protector

Your job would be to look after the beautiful, colourful coral reefs under the sea, which are like underwater cities for lots of fish. You'd check they are safe from harm and help new corals grow, making sure the ocean stays sparkly and full of life.

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Whale Watch Guide

You'd go out on a boat into the big ocean, helping people spot amazing whales and other sea creatures like seals and puffins. You'd tell everyone exciting stories and facts about these giant animals and their homes, teaching them how important it is to protect them.

Learning About the Ocean

Watch Ocean Documentaries

Watch exciting TV shows and films about the ocean and its creatures.

There are lots of amazing documentaries on TV and online that show you how beautiful and important the ocean is. Look for programmes about coral reefs, deep-sea animals, or even how scientists study sharks. Watching these can spark your imagination and teach you about different sea animals.

Read Books About Sea Life

Find fun books about fish, dolphins, turtles, and other ocean friends at your library or bookshop.

Reading books specifically about marine life for kids can introduce you to new creatures and concepts. Look for books that have lots of pictures and interesting facts. Your local library is a great place to start, and librarians can help you find the best ones.

Visit an Aquarium

Go to an aquarium to see real fish and sea animals up close and learn from the experts.

An aquarium is like a giant window into the ocean. You can see sharks, penguins, colourful tropical fish, and sometimes even touch creatures in special rock pools. Ask the people who work there questions about the animals, they are often marine biologists themselves!

Getting Ready for School

Enjoy Science Lessons

Pay attention in your science lessons at school, especially when you learn about animals or plants.

Science is super important for marine biologists! You'll learn about how living things grow, what they eat, and where they live. Even simple experiments at school can help you think like a scientist and prepare you for more advanced learning later on.

Learn About the Environment

Understand why it's important to keep our planet clean and look after nature, including the ocean.

Marine biologists often work to protect the ocean from pollution and other dangers. Learning about recycling, saving water, and not littering are all ways you can help the environment right now. These actions show you care about the planet, just like a marine biologist does.

Practice Being Observant

Look closely at the world around you, like spotting different birds in your garden or insects in a park.

Scientists need to be very good at noticing small details. When you watch animals in your garden, try to see what they're doing, what they eat, and how they move. This practice helps you develop the important skill of observation, which is key for studying animals in the ocean.

Exploring Further

Visit the Beach or Coast

Spend time at the beach looking for shells, crabs, and other things the ocean leaves behind.

A trip to the beach isn't just for building sandcastles! Look in rock pools at low tide to find tiny crabs, starfish, and anemones. Remember to look but not touch too much, and always put anything you move back carefully. This is a great way to see marine life in its natural home.

Join a Nature Club

Ask your parents about joining a nature club or a young explorers group to learn more about animals and plants.

Some clubs focus on wildlife and nature, which can give you more opportunities to explore and learn with other children who are also interested. You might go on nature walks, learn about different animals, or even help with small conservation projects. These experiences are fun and educational.

Pretend You are a Scientist

Set up a pretend lab at home with your toys and pretend to study different sea creatures.

Using your imagination is a super way to learn! You can draw pictures of marine animals, write down pretend observations about them, or even make up stories about their lives. This helps you think creatively and practice the kind of work a real marine biologist does every day.

🎬 Useful Videos

Expert Film: This is Lewis George, who works as the Horticultural Engagement Officer at the RHS. Lewis talks about sustainable fisheries.
1:45
Expert

Expert Film: This is Lewis George, who works as the Horticultural Engagement Officer at the RHS. Lewis talks about sustainable fisheries.

over 2 years ago

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Marine Biologist. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

🎓 View Apprenticeships

Career Progressions

This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.

Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.

Remember, progressing in your career often involves further learning and training. This page provides insights into future career options as well as those that can lead up to your current one.

These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!

Sample Qualifications

While a Marine Biologist studies marine life, an Oceanographer has a broader scope, often encompassing the biological aspects of marine ecosystems alongside physical and chemical oceanography. Given the options, 'Oceanographer' is the closest fit as it directly relates to the study of the ocean environment, which is where marine life resides and is studied.

How to become

You can get into this job through a university course.

University

You can study for a degree in oceanography or a related subject, like:

  • ocean science
  • geology
  • physics
  • marine science
  • biology or chemistry
  • environmental science

Employers often look for students with postgraduate qualifications, like a master's degree or PhD. They also value experience of working in marine science, engineering or oceanographic research.

You can get experience by choosing a course that includes work placements or internships with a marine company or research centre.

You can find marine companies and research organisations through the Society for Underwater Technology.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 3 A levels, or equivalent, including at least 1 science
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

More Information

Career tips

You could contact marine companies to see if you could work with them on a project as part of your university dissertation or postgraduate research. This would allow you to build up contacts in the industry, who may be able to help you find work once you complete your studies.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming an oceanographer from the:

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