Marine Biologist

A marine biologist conducts research on aquatic organisms, ecosystems, and marine environments in Australian waters and offshore regions. They design and execute field surveys, analyse biological and oceanographic data, and produce scientific reports to inform conservation, fisheries management, and environmental policy. Work occurs in laboratories, on research vessels, at coastal field sites, and in office-based analysis roles.

Design and conduct field surveys of marine fauna and flora using sampling protocols, transect walks, and net collection methods. Operate scientific diving equipment and maintain diving competencies to observe and collect specimens from underwater environments. Identify and classify marine organisms using taxonomic keys, microscopy, and molecular analysis techniques. Collect water and sediment samples for analysis of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Maintain and calibrate field instruments including salinity meters, pH probes, dissolved oxygen sensors, and temperature loggers. Analyse biological and oceanographic data using statistical software such as R, SPSS, or Python to interpret trends and relationships. Prepare specimens for laboratory analysis including tissue dissection, DNA extraction, and histological processing. Write scientific reports and peer-reviewed journal articles documenting research methodology, findings, and conclusions.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

Entry-level positions are scarce and highly competitive. Most roles require a research degree (honours or postgraduate) plus relevant publications or experience. Funding cuts to marine research mean permanent positions are rare.

CSIRO Marine National Facility, universities with marine programs, and state fisheries departments employ most researchers. Some roles exist in regional coastal towns but are limited. Remote work is rare due to fieldwork demands.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2345, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Community Development
• Digital Literacy
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Incident Reporting
• Microsoft Excel Data Management
• Process Documentation
• Reporting and Analytics
• Verbal Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026