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Aquatic Scientist Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aquatic Scientist in the United States is $97,475 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $114,299
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $86,851 to $106,281
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,178
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Aquatic Scientist Salaries

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

How Experience Level Affects Aquatic Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aquatic Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $63,769
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,256
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $99,688
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,641
  • Expert (over 8 years): $122,271
Levels Salary
Employee ... Level Aquatic Scientist$63,769
Employee ... Level Aquatic Scientist$82,256
Aquatic S... Level Aquatic Scientist$99,688
Employee ... Level Aquatic Scientist$113,641
Employee ... Level Aquatic Scientist$122,271
View as Graph

How Do Aquatic Scientist 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 Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $107,924.
  • California: $107,515.
  • Massachusetts: $106,082.

Top Paying Cities for Aquatic Scientists

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: $122,945
  • San Francisco: $121,599
  • Oakland: $119,036

What Skills Can Increase an Aquatic Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.04% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Case Management (Mentioned in 1.89% Job Postings): Connecting patients with suitable healthcare providers, resources, and services to ensure they receive optimal, cost-effective care.
  • HRIS (Mentioned in 0.79% Job Postings): HRIS is a management system designed specifically to provide managers with information to make HR decisions. Is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.04%
Case Management 1.89%
HRIS 0.79%
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 Scientist's salary.

  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • HRIS: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Labor Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis $110,147
13%
HRIS $109,172
12%
Labor Relations $108,197
11%
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Aquatic Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aquatic Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Aquatic Scientist positions in Aerospace & Defense or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aquatic Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Aquatic Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$107,222$52.010%

How Education impacts an Aquatic Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aquatic Scientists 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 Scientist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $97,547 and $103,571).

Aquatic Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aquatic Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.2%
High School 6.2%
Associates 2.5%
Bachelors 55.6%
Masters 33.3%
Doctorate 2.5%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Aquatic Scientist'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
$86,851
Average $97,475/year
$106,281
$7,238
Average $8,123/month
$8,857
$1,670
Average $1,875/week
$2,044
$42
Average $47/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,281 $8,857 $2,044 $51
Average $97,475 $8,123 $1,875 $47
25th Percentile $86,851 $7,238 $1,670 $42

Most common benefits for Aquatic Scientist

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

Common company salaries for Aquatic Scientist

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

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FAQ about Aquatic Scientist

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Aquatic Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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