How many fish are out there, and how to keep them there, is your science — surveying waters, tracking populations, and guiding sustainable fishing. The science behind healthy fisheries.
The work splits between field and desk: surveying fish populations, collecting samples and data on the water, analyzing trends, and writing reports that inform management. You're outdoors in boats and waders, then at a computer. The fieldwork is wet, physical, and weather-dependent, and the data takes years to show a clear trend.
The work sits where science meets politics and livelihoods — fishing regulations affect real people's incomes. Funding can be uncertain, you balance conservation against commercial and recreational interests, and your findings can be contested by everyone. Government, tribal, and research roles differ in focus.
It tends to suit people who are outdoorsy, rigorous, and even-handed. If you want a desk job or to avoid conflict, the field and politics may not fit. But if you care about keeping fish populations healthy for the long haul, it tends to be meaningful work.
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Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
How many fish are out there, and how to keep them there, is your science — surveying waters, tracking populations, and guiding sustainable fishing. The science behind healthy fisheries.
Median pay for a Fishery Biologist is about $73K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $48K to $113K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Complex Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and Judgment and Decision Making.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 1.6% through 2034, with roughly 16,920 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Research Scientist, Senior Research Scientist, and Aquatic Biologist.
Still figuring out what you want to become
when you grow up?