Marine biology

Marine biologist Wildly popular and frank about it: marine science is a crowded field and competition for jobs can be fierce. You will usually need a degree relevant to the area you want to work in, and a master's or PhD is a distinct advantage, essential for some management and lecturing posts. Entry-level salaries are typically £22,000 to £27,000, rising to around £35,000 to £45,000 after a few years. Projects are often grant-funded, so contracts can be as short as 12 to 24 months, and research trips can last from a few days to several months at sea. Choose it if you love data and fieldwork as much as dolphins, and keep a related science such as ecology as a fallback.