As of April 01, 2026, the average hourly pay of Oceanographer in the United States is $38. While Salary.com is seeing that Oceanographer salary in the US can go up to $49 or down to $28, but most earn between $33 and $44. Salary.com shows the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Oceanographer in the United States.
| Percentile | Hourly Pay Rate | Location | Last Updated |
| 10th Percentile Oceanographer Salary | $28 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 25th Percentile Oceanographer Salary | $33 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 50th Percentile Oceanographer Salary | $38 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 75th Percentile Oceanographer Salary | $44 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 90th Percentile Oceanographer Salary | $49 | US | April 01, 2026 |
Oceanography (compound of the Greek words ὠκεανός meaning "ocean" and γράφω meaning "write"), also known as oceanology, is the study of the physical and biological aspects of the ocean. It is an important Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamics; plate tectonics and the geology of the sea floor; and fluxes of various chemical substances and physical properties within the ocean and across its boundaries. These diverse topics reflect multiple disciplines that oceanographers blend to further knowledge o...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/25/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
2 - 4 years experience
Bachelor's Degree
4 - 7 years experience
Bachelor's Degree
7 + years experience
Bachelor's Degree
| Job Title | Experience | EDUCATION | Salary Compared to This Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title Geologist I | Experience 0 - 2 | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Geologist II | Experience 2 - 4 | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Geologist IV | Experience 7 + | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Geologist Manager | Experience 5 + | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Geologist V | Experience 10 + | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
Core compensation
Includes base and short-term incentives
Skills associated with Oceanographer: BUILD, Grid
Recently searched related titles: Microsoft Dynamics AX Developer, Associate Geologist
Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role
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