Marine Sciences degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in marine sciences earn a median $53,037 four years after finishing, across 2 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in oceanography earn $58,770, $3,279 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is postsecondary teachers (7%).
Median across 2 colleges; middle half $46,292–$59,782.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $36,661–$86,296. 217 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Oceanography"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$23,132/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs marine sciences graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in oceanography actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers | 7% | $82,250 | +6.0% | — | — |
| Bus Drivers, School | 5% | $47,920 | +0.7% | High school diploma or equivalent | RCS |
| Other Managers | 4% | — | — | — | — |
| Nursing Assistants | 3% | $42,260 | +2.6% | Postsecondary nondegree award | SRC |
| Biological Scientists | 3% | $99,760 | +6.7% | — | — |
| Teaching Assistants | 3% | $37,010 | +0.0% | — | — |
| Customer Service Representatives | 3% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 3% | $64,170 | -0.4% | — | — |
These 8 jobs account for 31% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Colleges where marine sciences graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 3 in Florida, 0 in Virginia, 3 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-Monterey BayCA | $59,782 | $17,800 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Marine Sciences degree questions
How much do Marine Sciences graduates make?
Marine Sciences graduates earn a median $53,037 four years after finishing, across 2 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $46,292 to $59,782; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in oceanography, the median is $58,770 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Marine Sciences degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in oceanography earn a median $58,770: $3,279 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $23,132 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Marine Sciences graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in oceanography, the most common jobs are postsecondary teachers (7%), bus drivers, school (5%), other managers (4%). Postsecondary Teachers earn a U.S. median $82,250.
Census field of degree matched to this major by EducationGuide (Marine Sciences -> Oceanography).
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Marine Sciences degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/marine-sciences.