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CAREERMASH (EN)FROM GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCES →

Oceanographer

Dive into the depths of the ocean and unlock its mysteries as an oceanographer! This exciting career allows you to explore marine life, study ocean currents, and contribute to the health of our planet. If you love science and adventure, this could be your dream job!

Oceanographer

15

Geography and Earth Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO15%moving to60%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSD
STARTING PAY£22,000 - £28,000
NO MOATNo physical, legal or personal barrier protects this work from software.
AI helps here, but has not taken over
AI can already do some of this job, but the day-to-day work still leans on a person to decide, check and take responsibility. Nothing formally protects this job though, so the safest move is to keep building the judgement AI cannot yet copy.

Career progression path

Is this the only route?

This is the standard academic trajectory, but modern careers are highly flexible. You can often skip stagesby entering the industry with an advanced qualification (like a Master's or PhD), or pivot sideways from a related discipline.

0ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONUniversity DegreeUsually 3 to 4 years of full-time academic study, explicitly preparing you for the theoretical realities of the industry. Requires A-Levels, BTECs, or equivalent Level 3.-£75,150Avg. UK tuition & living
1FIRST STEPMarine Research AssistantAs a Marine Research Assistant, you'll help collect data, assist in experiments, and support senior scientists in their research projects. This is a great way to gain practical experience in the field!£22,000 - £28,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEOceanographerIn this role, you'll conduct your own research, analyze data, and publish your findings. You'll work on important issues like climate change and marine conservation, making a real impact on the world.£30,000 - £45,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Oceanographer/Research LeaderAt the peak of your career, you'll lead major research projects, mentor junior scientists, and influence policy on marine issues. Your work will help shape the future of ocean science and conservation.£50,000+

Recommended UK degrees

Real courses that qualify you for this career, from the same register that priced the degree above.

Earth Sciences (International Programme)University College London · DegreeGeography (Extended Degree)University of Northumbria at Newcastle · DegreeGeographyUniversity of Durham · DegreeGeophysics with a Year AbroadThe University of East Anglia · DegreeMaster in OenologyHES-SO Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale · MasterHuman GeographySwansea University · Degree
Careermash

Careermash: navigate your career path with real data. Explore career profiles, salary benchmarks, AI impact forecasts, and the qualifications you need to get there.

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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