by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management explores Water, Wetlands, And Marine Resources Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles Of Marine/aquatic Biology, Oceanography, Natural Resource Economics, And Natural Resources Management To The Development, Conservation, And Management Of Freshwater And Saltwater Environments. Includes Instruction In Subjects Such As Wetlands, Riverine, Lacustrine, Coastal, And Oceanic Water Resources; Water Conservation And Use; Flood Control; Pollution Control; Water Supply Logistics; Wastewater Management; Aquatic And Marine Ecology; Aquatic And Marine Life Conservation; And The Economic And Recreational Uses Of Water Resources. Read on to learn the essential details every water, wetlands, & marine resources management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering water, wetlands, & marine resources management programs.
Nationwide, water, wetlands, & marine resources management is a widely-pursued major, with 355 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Schools ranking analyzes these 27 schools to determine the best overall colleges for water, wetlands, & marine resources management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of water, wetlands, & marine resources management programs later in this article.
Coursework for Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a water, wetlands, & marine resources management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a water, wetlands, & marine resources management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several water, wetlands, & marine resources management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 12 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 23 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 83 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 232 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to water, wetlands, & marine resources management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 35.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Master’s degree | 13.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in water, wetlands, & marine resources management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in water, wetlands, & marine resources management prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to water, wetlands, & marine resources management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to water, wetlands, & marine resources management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,496 |
| 4 years | $52,434 |
| 5 years | $59,221 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers water, wetlands, & marine resources management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
With 27 different water, wetlands, & marine resources management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased water, wetlands, & marine resources management school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in water, wetlands, & marine resources management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
