Marine Biologist

Ecologists play a pivotal role in understanding and protecting our natural world, focusing on the intricate relationships between organisms and their environments. In the UK, their expertise is crucial for biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable land use, making their work vital for both local ecosystems and global ecological health.

Marine Biologist

18

Biological Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO18%moving to58%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSC
STARTING PAY£25,000 - £30,000
REGULATORY MOATThe law requires human oversight. That human could be you.
This job holds up well against AI
AI cannot yet do much of what this job actually involves, and the law requires human oversight. That human could be you. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

1FIRST STEPJunior Marine BiologistIn this entry-level role, you will assist in fieldwork and laboratory analysis, gaining hands-on experience in marine research.£25,000 - £30,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level Marine BiologistAt this stage, you will lead research projects, manage field teams, and contribute to publications in scientific journals.£35,000 - £50,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Marine Biologist/Head of Marine ResearchIn a senior role, you will oversee major research initiatives, influence policy decisions, and mentor junior scientists.£60,000+
There is more than one way in

You do not have to go the university route to get here. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely.

Careermash

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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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