Earnings in aquaculture can vary greatly. Aquaculture farms employ graduate students in assistantships, as well as experienced professionals with Ph.D.'s in genetics. Entry-level technicians may begin at about $11 an hour, or $23,000 per year; those with a great deal of experience and a degree may earn an average salary of about $30,013 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.com. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that agricultural managers (including those who manage fish farms) had median annual earnings of $83,770 in May 2023. Annual salaries ranged from less than $47,800 to more than $136,410. In July 2024, ZipRecruiter.com reported the average salary for aquaculture jobs was $44,189.
Benefits for full-time workers include vacation and sick time, health, and sometimes dental, insurance, and pension or 401(k) plans.
- Agribusiness Technicians
- Agricultural Consultants
- Agricultural Equipment Technicians
- Agricultural Pilots
- Agricultural Scientists
- Animal Behaviorists
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Physical Therapists
- Arborists
- Astrobiologists
- Beekeepers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioinformatics Specialists
- Biologists
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biophysicists
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Botanists
- Chemists
- Climate Scientists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dairy Products Manufacturing Workers
- Drug Developers
- Ecologists
- Environmental Scientists
- Epidemiologists
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Farm Crop Production Technicians
- Farm Equipment Mechanics
- Farmers
- Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters
- Fishers
- Food Technologists
- Genetic Counselors
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Genealogists
- Genetic Scientists
- Grain Merchants
- Groundwater Professionals
- Horticultural Inspectors
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Marine Biologists
- Meatcutters and Meat Packers
- Medical Scientists
- Microbiologists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Naturalists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nursery Owners and Managers
- Organic Farmers
- Pathologists
- Physicians
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Range Managers
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Veterinarians
- Zoologists