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The average salary for a Fish Technologist is approximately $35,891 per year, translating to around $17 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as location, experience level, and the specific employer. For instance, entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced technologists can command higher wages.
Several states offer higher salaries for this profession. For example, states with robust aquatic research facilities or fisheries management programs tend to provide better compensation. Understanding regional demand can help job seekers target their applications effectively. Additionally, positions in governmental agencies or leading environmental organizations often come with enhanced benefits and salary packages.
Fish Technologists can increase their earning potential by gaining additional certifications, specializing in certain fish species, or pursuing leadership roles. Networking with professionals in the field and participating in relevant workshops can also open doors to higher-paying opportunities.
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The average fish technologist salary in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average fish technologist salary states are Alabama, Indiana, and North Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $49,447 | $23.77 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $49,265 | $23.69 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $47,628 | $22.90 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $45,318 | $21.79 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $43,161 | $20.75 |
| 6 | Alaska | $41,263 | $19.84 |
| 7 | New York | $44,754 | $21.52 |
| 8 | Maine | $37,857 | $18.20 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $35,748 | $17.19 |
| 10 | Texas | $38,909 | $18.71 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $34,461 | $16.57 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $36,658 | $17.62 |
| 13 | Maryland | $40,934 | $19.68 |
| 14 | Arizona | $33,699 | $16.20 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $32,646 | $15.70 |
| 16 | California | $44,099 | $21.20 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $36,366 | $17.48 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $35,755 | $17.19 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $44,609 | $21.45 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $32,520 | $15.63 |
| 21 | Vermont | $33,421 | $16.07 |
| 22 | Oregon | $34,607 | $16.64 |
| 23 | Illinois | $34,903 | $16.78 |
| 24 | Washington | $32,817 | $15.78 |
| 25 | Missouri | $32,585 | $15.67 |
| 26 | Florida | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| 27 | Michigan | $30,996 | $14.90 |
| 28 | Iowa | $32,296 | $15.53 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $36,027 | $17.32 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $31,472 | $15.13 |
| 31 | Virginia | $33,441 | $16.08 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $32,022 | $15.40 |
| 33 | Delaware | $34,052 | $16.37 |
| 34 | Georgia | $30,164 | $14.50 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $30,254 | $14.55 |
| 36 | Utah | $31,541 | $15.16 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $30,371 | $14.60 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $29,048 | $13.97 |
| 39 | Kansas | $28,497 | $13.70 |
| 40 | Indiana | $25,165 | $12.10 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $31,019 | $14.91 |
| 42 | Montana | $24,411 | $11.74 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $27,046 | $13.00 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $25,097 | $12.07 |
| 45 | Ohio | $29,164 | $14.02 |
| 46 | Idaho | $27,161 | $13.06 |
| 47 | Nevada | $27,143 | $13.05 |
| 48 | Alabama | $25,908 | $12.46 |
| 49 | Colorado | $28,610 | $13.75 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $24,656 | $11.85 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $24,091 | $11.58 |
The highest-paying cities for fish technologists are Rye Brook, NY, Port Chester, NY, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rye Brook, NY | $45,244 | $21.75 |
| 2 | Port Chester, NY | $45,241 | $21.75 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $44,791 | $21.53 |
| 4 | Berkeley, CA | $44,492 | $21.39 |
| 5 | Lake Forest, CA | $43,910 | $21.11 |
| 6 | Thermal, CA | $43,277 | $20.81 |
| 7 | Kenai, AK | $42,040 | $20.21 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $38,155 | $18.34 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $37,956 | $18.25 |
| 10 | Cole, OK | $36,065 | $17.34 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,597 | $16.15 |
| 12 | Nespelem, WA | $32,262 | $15.51 |
| 13 | Moravia, IA | $32,162 | $15.46 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $30,491 | $14.66 |
| 15 | Fort Myers, FL | $30,458 | $14.64 |
| 16 | Ruskin, FL | $30,294 | $14.56 |
| 17 | Plant City, FL | $30,235 | $14.54 |
| 18 | Lakeland, FL | $30,223 | $14.53 |
| 19 | Pike Road, AL | $26,050 | $12.52 |
A fish technologist's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $35,891 | $2,991 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of fish technologists are research and development technician, research assistant, chemistry department, and pilot plant technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
| Microbiological Laboratory Technician | $38,713 | $3,226 | $18.61 | 44,567 |
| Research And Development Technician | $83,552 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 111,268 |
| Biological Science Technician | $35,390 | $2,949 | $17.01 | 13,801 |
| Biology Laboratory Technician | $38,514 | $3,209 | $18.52 | 45,470 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
Top companies hiring fish technologists now:
Fish technologist salaries at Columbia University in the City of New York and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average fish technologist salary at companies like Washington State University and Gulf of Maine Research Institute are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $54,360 | $26.13 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $50,637 | $24.34 |
| 3 | Washington State University | $48,630 | $23.38 |
| 4 | Gulf of Maine Research Institute | $44,981 | $21.63 |
| 5 | NeoGenomics Laboratories | $44,664 | $21.47 |
| 6 | Nomura Securities | $43,801 | $21.06 |
| 7 | Trident Seafoods | $41,547 | $19.97 |
| 8 | Staff Icons | $39,298 | $18.89 |
| 9 | Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| 10 | State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc | $38,049 | $18.29 |
| 11 | CBLPath | $37,364 | $17.96 |
| 12 | Peter Pan Seafoods Inc | $37,325 | $17.94 |
| 13 | Nippon Suisan Kaisha | $37,325 | $17.94 |
| 14 | Pacific Choice Seafood | $37,325 | $17.94 |
| 15 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $36,033 | $17.32 |
| 16 | Kenaitze Indian Tribe | $35,472 | $17.05 |
| 17 | Central Garden & Pet | $34,171 | $16.43 |
| 18 | Ocean Beauty Seafoods | $32,705 | $15.72 |
| 19 | Icicle Seafoods | $31,192 | $15.00 |
The average fish technologist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $40,182 | $19.32 |
| 2 | Government | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $34,509 | $16.59 |
| 4 | Retail | $31,844 | $15.31 |
The average fish technologist salary has risen by $5,313 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fish technologist earned $30,578 annually, but today, they earn $35,891 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for fish technologists over the last decade.
Compare fish technologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare fish technologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,900 | $17.26 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $35,500 | $17.08 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $34,500 | $16.57 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $33,900 | $16.31 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $32,900 | $15.83 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Services | Fish ID Technician | Pateros, WA | 06/28/2025 | $37,023 |
| City of Seattle | Conservation Fish Hatchery Technician | Seattle, WA | 06/18/2025 | $65,407 |
| City of Seattle, Wa | Conservation Fish Hatchery Technician | Seattle, WA | 04/24/2025 | $65,407 |
| Yakama Nation Tribal School | Fish Technician II (Tft)-Frm | Toppenish, WA | 04/17/2025 | $32,849 |
| Spokane Tribe | Water & Fish Technician I | Ione, WA | 03/22/2025 | $39,841 |
| Yakama Nation Tribal School | Fish Technician III (Mccrp) | Ione, WA | 03/19/2025 | $38,046 |
| Ndow | Fish Hatchery Technician 2 | Carson City, NV | 02/27/2025 | $50,154 |
| Yakama Nation Tribal School | Fish Technician II (2) Positions-Frm | Toppenish, WA | 02/24/2025 | $32,849 |
| Yakama Nation | Fish Technician II-Ykfp | Toppenish, WA | 02/19/2025 | $32,849 |
| State of Nevada | Fish Hatchery Technician 1-Mason Valley Fish Hatchery-Minimum Qualifications Waived | Nevada | 02/01/2025 | $46,207 |
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