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Fisheries Sciences

Types of Degrees Fisheries Sciences Majors Are Earning

Those studying Fisheries Sciences have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	9
Associate’s Degree	38
Bachelor’s Degree	245
Master’s Degree	106
Doctor’s Degree	9

What Fisheries Sciences Majors Need to Know

Studies in Fisheries Sciences emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Fisheries Sciences graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Fisheries Sciences emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Geography — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Law and Government — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Fisheries Sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Coordination — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.5 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.7 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.5 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Fisheries Sciences careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Spatial Orientation — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Far Vision — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Static Strength — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Fisheries Sciences graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.1 / 7
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	4.0 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	4.0 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.9 / 7
Getting Information	3.7 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.7 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.7 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.7 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	3.6 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.5 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Fisheries Sciences professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Signet Nobeltec Catch	Map creation software	—
MaxSea TIMEZERO	Map creation software	—
Trimble MyTopo Terrain Navigator Pro	Map creation software	—
Inventory management systems	Inventory management software	—
DeerDays	Analytical or scientific software	—
OLRAC Electronic Logbook Software Solution	Data base user interface and query software	—
MaxSea Time Zero Navigator NOAA	Route navigation software	—
Winchester Ammunition Ballistics Calculator	Analytical or scientific software	—
Strat-Tech Deer Hunting Expert	Analytical or scientific software	—
P-Sea WindPlot	Map creation software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Fisheries Sciences graduates include:

• Purse Seiner
• Kelp Cutter
• Alligator Hunter
• Nuisance Trapper
• Albacore Fishing Boat Crewman
• Fishing Vessel Deckhand
• Lobster Man
• Bounty Hunter
• Fisherman
• Shellfish Dredge Operator
• Seaweed Harvester
• Hunting Guide
• Skipper
• Deep Sea Diver
• Commercial Fisherman

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Fisheries Sciences graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Less than a high school diploma	37.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	30.3%
Some college courses	13.2%
Bachelor’s degree	10.7%
Postsecondary certificate	6.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	0.8%
Master’s degree	0.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Fisheries Sciences?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 45.9% women and 54.1% men among Fisheries Sciences graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	187	45.9%
Men	220	54.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Fisheries Sciences graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	340	83.5%
Asian	7	1.7%
Hispanic or Latino	20	4.9%
Black or African American	4	1.0%
Two or More Races	18	4.4%
Race Unknown	9	2.2%
International Students	9	2.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Fisheries Sciences Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Fisheries Sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$35,186
4 years	$41,194
5 years	$48,316

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $48,316 — roughly 37% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Fisheries Sciences Programs

Online study are documented by IPEDS for Fisheries Sciences. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	1
Master’s	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Fisheries Sciences Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Fisheries Sciences graduates earn a median of $41,194 four years after completion — roughly 8% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Natural Resources Conservation	03
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy	03.02
Forestry	03.05
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other	03.99
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION	03.00
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	03.01
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management	03.06

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.