Money · 1 of 5
What marine biologists make
Median
$76,780
Bottom tenth
$49,100
Top tenth
$126,440
The federal wage survey has no line called marine biologist. These figures come from zoologists and wildlife biologists, where the median is $76,780 a year and the bottom tenth earn $49,100 or less. The top tenth earn $126,440 or more. These are full-year figures, so seasonal field contracts that last only part of the year pay less over a year.