Oceanographers

Employers

Many of those working in oceanography and marine-related fields work for federal or state governments. Federal employers of oceanographers, ocean engineers, marine technicians, and those interested in marine policy include the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, Naval Oceanographic Office, and the U.S. Geological Survey, among others. State governments often employ oceanographers in environmental agencies or state-funded research projects.

Oceanographers are also employed by colleges or universities, where they teach, conduct research, write, and consult. It is not surprising that most jobs in oceanography are found on or near bodies of water, whether saltwater or freshwater. Yet some educational institutions with oceanography programs are not located very near oceans or rivers—for example, Texas A&M University in College Station. The best known institutions in this field include Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Miami, Florida, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California-San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Some oceanographers work for private industries such as oil companies and nonprofit organizations, including environmental societies. An increasing number of oceanographers are employed by industrial firms, particularly those involved in oceanographic instrument and equipment manufacturing, shipbuilding, and chemistry.

Starting Out

Most college career services offices are staffed to help you find positions in business and industry after you graduate. Often positions can be found through friends, relatives, or college professors or through the college's career service's office by application and interview. College and university assistantships, instructorships, and professorships are usually obtained by recommendation of your major professor or department chairperson. In addition, internships with the government or private industry during college can often lead to permanent employment after graduation. The American Institute of Biological Sciences maintains a career resources section on its Web site with useful job hunting links.