Limnologist
Impact: Freshwater ecosystem health and water security through expert limnological research
Study freshwater ecosystems including lakes, rivers, wetlands, and streams to understand their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Conduct field sampling, analyse water quality data, assess ecosystem health, and advise government agencies, conservation organisations, and water utilities on freshwater management.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- 20 to 40% for field sampling and site visits
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 38 to 50 hours/week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $95,000
- Entry-level
- $50,000 - $70,000
- Senior
- $155,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 8% (as fast as average)
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate - 50 to 65% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- Low
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- 55
Soft skills
- 45
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Master's Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 2 to 4 years
- Years to senior
- 5 to 8 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Research Assistant > Limnologist > Senior Limnologist > Principal Limnologist > Director of Freshwater Science
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15% low risk as limnology requires physical field work and expert ecosystem analysis
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 7/10
- Meaning
- 7/10
- Work-life balance
- 6.5/10
- Prestige
- 7/10
- Social perception
- High