Money · 1 of 5
What marine biologists make
Median
$76,780
Lower 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 about $49,100. Seasonal field contracts sit well below that. Federal agency scientists sit around the middle, and the top tenth are senior researchers and lab leaders.