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Aquarist

Overview and Key Facts

Man holding bucket with food for dolphins on a beach
Education
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Pay
Median Pay
$33,470
Job Growth
Job Growth
12.10%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
439,600

What Do They Do?

An aquarist could...

 
Fish in a tank
Investigate how to breed different species in captivity to populate exhibits.
Aquarium
Create and maintain an aquarium exhibit that delights visitors.
Hand holding scoop of food to feed fish in pond
Prepare food and vitamins for fishes and other aquarium animals.
Dolphin playing with ring
Stimulate animals by creating species-specific toys and challenges.
 
Fish in a tank Aquarium Hand holding scoop of food to feed fish in pond Dolphin playing with ring

Overview Listen to this section

A summer day at the beach can be very relaxing. The sand is warm and the waves lap gently on the shore. But beneath the water's surface is a world that is teeming with rich plant and animal life. For many of us, it isn't possible to experience this world firsthand. But at a public aquarium, we can take a peek and examine close up the beautiful fish and coral. An aquarist cares for the animal and plant life that you see in those aquarium displays. Aquarists make sure that all of the animals and plants in their displays are well fed and free of disease.
Watch this cool video and learn about this awesome career. Leslee Matsushige is an aquarist and an assistant curator at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She is an expert at maintaining exhibits of sea horses and sea dragons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GpDktQW3y8

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Aquarist?


  1. Monitoring: ?
  2. Service Orientation: ?
  3. Coordination: ?
  4. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
  5. Active Listening: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Aquarist might do:
  • Preserve exhibit aesthetics by cleaning viewing surface regularly, adding and removing specimens, maintaining proper lighting, and removing unwanted materials.
  • Maintain aquarium tank-life support by monitoring equipment performance and troubleshooting, repairing, and replacing equipment as necessary.
  • Test aquarium water quality and make adjustments as necessary.
  • Acquire specimens after identifying sources and obtaining permits. Oversee specimen transport, acclimation, and introduction into exhibits.
  • Determine the dietary needs of specimens. Prepare meals and feed specimens.
  • Maintain and record animal health by observing and diagnosing health issues, and applying appropriate treatments.
  • Design exhibits after determining theme and focus and after conducting feasibility study. Design appropriate life-support system.
  • Locate and order materials, prepare location, and construct exhibits.
  • Assist with training, education, and media relations. May include training volunteers and interns and preparing presentations for tours.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Aquarist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Aquarist jobs (12.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Aquarist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Nearly all aquarists need to be certified scuba divers before they can take their first aquarium-related position. Certification classes are available at many two- and four-year colleges, private fitness organizations, and diving companies. Candidates interested in becoming aquarists must first intern at an aquarium, zoo, or research lab.

The salary range is quite large depending on location and experience. Starting salaries can be as low as $18,000 to $22,000 but for more experienced people at top institutions the salary can rise to nearly $50,000.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: High school diploma or equivalent ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

The minimum degree required for an entry-level aquarist position is a bachelor's degree in marine biology or zoology.

Companies That Hire Aquarists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Meet Hannah Ban-Weiss, a Sea Otter Aquarist II at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.
The animals are my most favorite thing about the job. They all have very different personalities, so you can appreciate something different about all of them. Every single day there's a different thing going on, like they're in a different mood!  
Hannah Ban-Weiss
Chris Wade is senior aquarist at Oahu's Sea Life Park Hawaii. Read about Chris's less-traditional path to becoming an aquarist.
I love my job now...Since becoming involved in the ocean, I have never looked back. 
Chris Wade

Nature of the Work

Aquarists are just like zookeepers, except their charges live under water. Aquarists take care of fish and other aquatic creatures at large aquariums. They feed and monitor animals and maintain exhibits. Aquarists check the temperature and conditions of fish tanks. They look for any medical problems with the animals, such as injuries, sluggish swimming, and lack of interest in food. Aquarists also prepare food with vitamin supplements for all the fish under their care.

Aquarists' duties include cleaning tanks so that patrons can fully enjoy the creatures within. They take water samples and analyze them with pH strips and laboratory equipment to make sure that the water filtration and temperature systems are in working order. Clean water keeps fish healthy.

Many animals come directly from the wild. Aquarists collect creatures and plants from freshwater and seawater a few times each year. They must be prepared to travel internationally and have travel documents such as a passport. Scuba certification is also a must in order to collect interesting specimens.

Some aquarists train seals, dolphins, and other marine animals to perform tricks and interact with humans. They are responsible for keeping their animals mentally engaged and do so by creating stimulating environments. Training can make caring for the animals easier.

Work Environment

Aquarists work in a variety of industries, including public aquariums and zoos, education centers with aquariums, marine research labs, state and federal agencies for natural resources, theme parks, and pet and aquarium stores. Aquarists have variable work schedules and often must be willing to work on weekends and holidays.

Some positions require travel to local and international sites for specimen collection.

More Information

Ask Questions

Do you have a specific question about a career as an Aquarist that isn't answered on this page? Post your question on the Science Buddies Ask an Expert Forum.

Additional Resources

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