Aquarists

Aquariums often are nonprofit institutions, limiting the earnings ability in this job somewhat. In general, aquarists working in the United States earn salaries that range from $40,962 or less to $53,659, according to a June 2024 Salary.com estimate. The median salary was $44,051. Senior aquarists can make $55,000 or more per year, and aquarist supervisors or managers may command higher earnings. The closest job to aquarist reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is nonfarm animal caretaker; the median annual salary for this position in May 2023 was $31,200. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $23,180 and the top 10 percent earned more than $45,080. Aquariums do offer fairly extensive benefits, however, including health insurance, 401(k) plans, continuing education opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and reciprocal benefits with many other cultural institutions.