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Aquatic Ecologist Salary in the United States

How much does an Aquatic Ecologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aquatic Ecologist in the United States is $61,032 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, an Aquatic Ecologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,515
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,899 to $69,136
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,584
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Aquatic Ecologist Salaries

An Aquatic Ecologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Aquatic Ecologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Aquatic Ecologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $67,575.
  • California: $67,319.
  • Massachusetts: $66,421.

Top Paying Cities for Aquatic Ecologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $76,980
  • San Francisco: $76,137
  • Oakland: $74,533

What Skills Can Increase an Aquatic Ecologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 11.66% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Law Enforcement (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Law enforcement is any system by which some members of society act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society. Although the term encompasses entities such as courts and prisons, it is most frequently applied to those who directly engage in patrols or surveillance to dissuade and discover criminal activity, and those who investigate crimes and apprehend offenders, a task typically carried out by the police or another law enforcement organization. Furthermore, although law enforcement may be most concerned with the prevention and punishment of crimes, organizations exist to discourage a wide variety of non-criminal violations of rules and norms, effected through the imposition of less severe consequences.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 11.66%
Microsoft Office 2%
Law Enforcement 1.33%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Aquatic Ecologist's salary.

  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Pediatric: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Chemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Management $73,239
20%
Pediatric $68,966
13%
Chemistry $66,525
9%
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Aquatic Ecologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aquatic Ecologist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 15% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 5% above the average. Conversely, Aquatic Ecologist positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Aquatic Ecologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Aquatic Ecologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$64,084$31.05%

How Education impacts an Aquatic Ecologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aquatic Ecologists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Aquatic Ecologist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $48,774 and $55,600).

Aquatic Ecologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aquatic Ecologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 0.4%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 23.4%
Masters 68.1%
Doctorate 6.8%
View as Graph

Aquatic Ecologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aquatic Ecologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$51,899
Average $61,032/year
$69,136
$4,325
Average $5,086/month
$5,761
$998
Average $1,174/week
$1,330
$25
Average $29/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $69,136 $5,761 $1,330 $33
Average $61,032 $5,086 $1,174 $29
25th Percentile $51,899 $4,325 $998 $25

Most common benefits for Aquatic Ecologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Aquatic Ecologist

Here are companies hiring for Aquatic Ecologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Aquatic Ecologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Aquatic Ecologist?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Aquatic Ecologist roles, with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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