A biologist who goes to sea on commercial fishing boats to record catch, bycatch and protected species interactions for NOAA Fisheries management. BLS does not publish separate figures for biological technicians; it counts them within biological technician (SOC 19-4021), whose median pay is $57,510 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-4021
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Fisheries Observer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $57,510a year, or $27.65/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $85K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.4%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,40074,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202574.4K
- Projected 203579.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 74.4K Projected 2035 79.9K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school14.5%
- Certificate2.5%
- Some college14.5%
- Bachelor's62.8%
- Doctorate0.2%
- Post-doctoral training5.6%
Highest education held by biological technicians Segment Value High school 14.5% Certificate 2.5% Some college 14.5% Bachelor's 62.8% Doctorate 0.2% Post-doctoral training 5.6%
Also advertised as: Fishery Observer, At-Sea Monitor, Groundfish Observer, Fisheries Biological Observer, Catch Monitor.
Pay
How much do Biological Technicians make?
Every fisheries observer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$57,510
Middle half earn $48,130 to $71,520
- 10th
- $40,330
- 25th
- $48,130
- 75th
- $71,520
- 90th
- $84,940
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,330 |
| 25th | $48,130 |
| Median | $57,510 |
| 75th | $71,520 |
| 90th | $84,940 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $57,510
- Median hourly wage
- $27.65/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $61,380
- People employed
- 69,620
Versus all US occupations
At $57,510, Biological Technicians earn 13% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,530 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 30% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $84,940 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,330, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 29% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($71,440), but once local prices are taken into account Mississippi leads at $65,472 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Biological Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $71,440 | $64,523 | 9,210 |
| 2New Jersey | $66,040 | $60,696 | 1,290 |
| 3District of Columbia | $64,770 | $58,935 | 210 |
| 4Connecticut | $62,360 | $60,187 | 650 |
| 5Massachusetts | $62,070 | $58,691 | 8,430 |
| 6North Carolina | $61,720 | $65,433 | 2,460 |
| 7New York | $61,210 | $56,717 | 5,050 |
| 8Washington | $60,800 | $56,816 | 3,210 |
| 9Maine | $60,160 | $61,989 | 510 |
| 10Colorado | $59,400 | $57,641 | 1,990 |
Job outlook
Is Fisheries Observer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | +7.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Biological Technicians to change 7.4% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.1× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,400 openings are projected each year, 12.6% of the 74,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Fisheries Observer
NOAA Fisheries sets national requirements: a bachelor's degree in a natural science with substantial biology coursework, at least one math or statistics course, and the physical ability to work in harsh conditions. Some regional programs add requirements such as U.S. citizenship, CPR and first aid, or physical standards.
Observers are hired by private observer provider companies under contract with NOAA, then complete an intensive training course of two to three weeks covering species identification, sampling methods, regulations and sea survival. Many people take observer jobs right after college as a way into marine science careers.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as biological technicians.
- Bachelor's Degree62.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)14.5%
- Some College Courses14.5%
- Post-Doctoral Training5.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 62.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 14.5% |
| Some College Courses | 14.5% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 5.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 2.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Fisheries Observer do?
Fisheries observers are scientists embedded on working fishing vessels. They sample the catch as it comes aboard, identify and count species, measure and weigh fish, collect otoliths and tissue samples for age and genetic studies, and estimate how much is thrown back.
They also record interactions with marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles, and document how gear is used. The data they collect feed directly into stock assessments, catch limits and bycatch rules that govern U.S. fisheries. Observers work alongside the crew on deck in all conditions, enter data at sea, and complete debriefings with program staff when they return to port.
Day-to-day tasks
- Sample commercial catch and identify fish species
- Measure, weigh and sex fish and collect otoliths
- Estimate discarded catch and bycatch
- Record interactions with marine mammals, seabirds and turtles
- Collect tissue and biological samples for research
- Enter and check data aboard the vessel
- Debrief with observer program staff after each trip
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Observers spend days, weeks or months at sea on fishing vessels in places such as Alaska, the Pacific coast, New England and the Gulf of Mexico. Living conditions can be cramped and the work is wet, cold and physically demanding, with seasickness a real factor. Time ashore between trips can be flexible.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Science3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.5
- Active Learning3.5
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Science | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Systems Analysis2.9
- Systems Evaluation2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 2.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Map creation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Fisheries Observer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIC) built on O*NET's Biological Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Fisheries Observer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.7
- Conventional5.6
- Investigative5.4
- Social2.0
- Enterprising1.3
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Fisheries Observer
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician
$62,930median a year
Most earn $39K to $101K
+2.7%Bachelor's - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
$62,930median a year
Most earn $39K to $101K
+2.7%Bachelor's - Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with biological technicians highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
- Fisheries Observer$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
| Fisheries Observer | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Fisheries Observer appears on
Questions
Fisheries Observer: frequently asked questions
How much do Biological Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for biological technicians. It counts them within biological technician, whose median pay is $57,510 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $48,130 and $71,520, and the top 10% earn $84,940 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Fisheries Observer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Biological Technicians, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.8% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Fisheries Observer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.4% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Fisheries Observer do?
Fisheries observers are scientists embedded on working fishing vessels. A typical task: sample commercial catch and identify fish species. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Biological Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Biological Technicians are California ($71,440), New Jersey ($66,040), District of Columbia ($64,770) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Mississippi moves to the top at $65,472.
What personality type suits a Fisheries Observer?
O*NET scores Biological Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.