Aquarists Don't Make Much Money, But Have Lots of Job Duties

An aquarist is someone who takes care of aquatic animals. Care usually consists of feeding, monitoring, administering treatments, cleaning and disinfecting water, building and maintaining exhibits, and record keeping. In addition to these basic job functions, aquarists must also sometimes take on additional tasks, such as training new employees, writing grant requests, purchasing or otherwise acquiring aquarium specimens, breeding aquatic animals, and sometimes even fundraising.

Obviously, the duties of an aquarist are many, but these duties aren't the half of it. Aquarists, more than most other professions, must know how to use an amazing variety of tools and equipment, including hand and power tools, scuba gear, pumps, plumbing and lighting equipment, cameras, cleaning and maintenance equipment, boats, forklifts, laboratory equipment, filters, ladders, scaffolding, respirators, compressors, pressure sprayers, and spear guns, to name only a few items. There are many other tools and other equipment aquarists are expected to use in addition to these items, so obviously these professionals must be skilled at equipment usage or willing to learn.

Unfortunately, the salaries earned by most aquarists aren't all that great. The average is only around $20,000 a year for entry level positions, according to the U. S. Department of Labor. Fortunately, a college degree isn't required for this position, but for higher end jobs in the industry, a degree in Marine Biology or other related science would be helpful and would naturally bring a higher salary. Most aquarists work in this industry either as part-time help while going through college, or simply because they enjoy the job. Salary hikes are possible after several years of experience in the field, however. The reported average for aquarists with 5+ years of experience is around $26,000, but generally speaking, it's an industry with little money to spare on salaries.

In spite of the low salaries, this is an industry with some growth potential, however. The growth rate, according to monster.com, is around 18%, which is above average compared to other industries. This may mean that salaries go up eventually, as more aquarists are needed.

Aquarists must be willing to work in extreme environmental conditions for long periods of time. This may mean working in cold, damp conditions or hot, humid conditions. They must also possess plenty of physical stamina and be able and willing to learn to operate the vast array of tools and equipment needed in order to perform this job. They need to be detail oriented, motivated, and most of all, have a love of aquatic animals.

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