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Oceanographer - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Oceanographer"
How much does an Oceanographer in the federal government get paid? $132,556.03* *Based on the 2021 average.Oceanographer was the 299th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 275 employed. The most common payscale was the scientific and engineering professional payscale.
In 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hired the most employees titled Oceanography, with an average salary of $132,359.
Government Oceanography jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Oceanography job is GS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions fall under this job category. Due to the growing focus of them STEM fields, individuals in this job category tend to advance more quickly than employees in the other job categories. Jobs in this category are being added quickly and many organizations have trouble finding qualified individuals. Individuals in this job category typically recieve pormotions of 2 grade increases at a time until they reach GS-12.
Agencies that have hired an Oceanographer
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 187 | $132,358.98 |
| Geological Survey | 42 | $115,686.38 |
| Bureau of Ocean Energy Management | 17 | $135,302.35 |
| Goddard Space Flight Center | 14 | $149,069.86 |
| National Science Foundation | 8 | $192,206.63 |
| Environmental Protection Agency | 3 | $130,485.00 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | 3 | $138,455.00 |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | 1 | $111,360.00 |
Oceanographer Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Oceanographer is $132,556.03. The highest paid Oceanographer made $199,300 in 2021.
Common Oceanographer Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Oceanography Employees |
|---|---|
| ZP - Scientific And Engineering Professional | 159 |
| GS - General Schedule | 89 |
| EI - Advisory Committee Member (other) | 14 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified | 7 |
| ST - Scientific And Professional | 3 |
| ES - Senior Executive Service | 2 |
| EE - Expert (other) | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $36,070.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $152,771.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Professional and Scientific |
| Occupation Family: | 1300 PHYSICAL SCIENCES GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-6 Paygrade
GS-6 is the starting paygrade for Oceanography jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrating | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Medical Technologist | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Production Control | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Soil Conservation | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| History | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
Average Oceanography Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for an Oceanographer was $91,347. Since then, the average pay has increased to $132,556 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 1360.