Oceanographers conduct field studies, laboratory experiments and theoretical investigations.
Oceanographers are scientists whose area of expertise is the oceans. They study how seawater environments interact with freshwater, the polar icecaps and the atmosphere. They also investigate the relationship between humans and the oceans, looking at the detrimental impact of human activity on saltwater environments and organisms, but also how the oceans can benefit humans through the provision of food, or by harnessing its power to generate energy. Oceanographers use a wide spectrum of scientific knowledge, including geology, chemistry, biology and climatology.
Average Pay
For its May 2009 national employment survey, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classified oceanographers alongside other hydrologists -- such as limnologists who study inland waterways. It calculated that the average annual pay across the profession was $76,760. This means that an oceanographer receives an average of $36.91 an hour or $6,397 per month. Top earners -- those in the highest 10 percent bracket -- achieved salaries averaging in excess of $110,110, while their colleagues in the lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,290, on average.
Pay by Employment
According to the bureau's survey, the sectors in which the largest numbers of hydrologists -- including oceanographers -- are employed are federal government agencies, architectural, engineering and related services, and management, scientific, and technical consulting services. The average wages in these sectors of the profession were $82,150, $79,270 and $78,450, respectively. State government agencies offered an average of $64,000 while their local counterparts were listed at $68,590. Academic positions for hydrologists, in colleges, universities and professional schools paid an average of $71,700, slightly more than those within scientific research and development services -- $69,410.
Pay by Location
Location also impacts an oceanographer's pay level. In a survey of oceanographer salaries in several major cities, SalaryExpert.com found that across all industry sectors, Houston had the highest average wage -- $124,791. In contrast, Orlando was listed at just $55,706. The bureau reported that Virginia and California were among the states in which an oceanographer was likely to secure the highest pay, averaging $131,670 and $85,160, respectively.
Prospects
The Bureau of Labor Statistics posits an 18 percent growth in employment opportunities for geoscientists and hydrologists of all specialities -- including oceanographers -- over the decade from 2008 to 2018. Although competition for research and teaching jobs is expected to be keen, there should be ample opportunity for candidates to work in consultative capacities, environmental management and energy production. Oceanographers will be in demand because of population shifts to environmentally sensitive coastal regions. This movement will require expertise to make assessments and monitor impact. As a result, salary levels should remain very attractive.
Tags: Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, government agencies, including oceanographers, Labor Statistics
