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Ocean Explorer Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Event Educator

Draper, UT ยท On-site

$17/hr

... explore, discover, and learn about Earth's diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium ... ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah's freshwater ...

Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer

Orem, UT ยท On-site

$78K - $107K/yr

... oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the ...

... oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research. We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the ...

Aquarium Educator

Draper, UT ยท On-site

$17/hr

... explore, discover, and learn about Earth's diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium ... ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah's freshwater ...

... Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas ... Exploration Division - Propulsion Systems business unit team in Magna, UT. This position is 100 ...

Showing results 41-60

Ocean Explorer information

See Utah salary details

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$28

How much do ocean explorer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for ocean explorer in Utah is $20.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.74 and $21.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an ocean explorer?

Ocean explorers are scientists, researchers, or adventurers who study and investigate the world's oceans. They use specialized equipment like submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, and sonar mapping to discover new marine species, map the seafloor, and learn about underwater ecosystems. Their work helps us understand the ocean's role in Earth's climate, biodiversity, and resources, and often leads to exciting discoveries about our planet's last great frontier.

What are some of the main challenges ocean explorers face when conducting underwater research?

Ocean explorers often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions, limited underwater visibility, and the technical difficulties of operating specialized equipment like submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. In addition, working at great depths can pose physical and psychological stresses, requiring thorough training and strict safety protocols. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including marine biologists, engineers, and data analysts, is also essential to overcome these obstacles and ensure the success of research missions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an ocean explorer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Ocean Explorer, you need a strong background in marine science, oceanography, or related fields, often supported by advanced degrees and field research experience. Proficiency in using submersibles, sonar mapping systems, SCUBA equipment, and data analysis software is typically required. Curiosity, problem-solving, and teamwork are crucial soft skills for adapting to challenging environments and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualities are vital for conducting safe, effective research and advancing our understanding of ocean ecosystems.

How do you become an ocean explorer?

To become an ocean explorer, individuals typically need a background in marine science, oceanography, or related fields, often requiring a bachelor's degree at minimum and advanced degrees for research roles. Gaining experience through internships, certifications in scuba diving or submersible operation, and developing skills in data collection and analysis are also important for pursuing this career.

How much do ocean explorers get paid?

Ocean explorers' salaries vary widely depending on experience, funding, and the organization they work for. Entry-level positions may start around $40,000 to $60,000 annually, while experienced explorers or those working for government agencies or private companies can earn over $100,000 per year. Specialized skills, certifications, and access to advanced equipment can influence compensation levels.

What are popular job titles related to Ocean Explorer jobs in Utah?

For Ocean Explorer jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Ocean Explorer job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,166 per year, or $20.3 per hour.

Event Educator

The Living Planet Aquarium

Draper, UT โ€ข On-site

$17/hr

Part-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

Position: Event Educator (Part-Time)

Reports To: Education Manager

Compensation: $17.00 per hour


Why Utah? 

Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking 

and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor 

adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean 

communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of 

suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all 

four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, 

perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, 

supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.

About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people 

to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium 

provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.

Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and 

delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals 

representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, 

including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud 

forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase 

of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium 

became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United 

States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.

Position Summary:

The Event Educator’s role is critical to delivering our mission. An Educator’s primary responsibility is 

to enhance the guest experience with high quality interpretive experiences throughout our galleries 

and education spaces. Educators will interact with Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) visitors of 

all ages and backgrounds to provide inspiring personal engagements and activities or more formal 

presentations, demonstrations and learning stations. Event Educators also have the option to be 

trained on additional onsite and offsite science education programs delivered by our Aquarium 

Educators.

Event Educators report directly to Education Managers. Educators collaborate with assistant 

managers, managers, and their peer educators to improve interpretation skills and techniques. 

Educators are required to provide a variety of learning and engagement opportunities for Aquarium 

guests to enhance their visit.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma

• At least 18 years of age

• Associate’s or bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, marine science, environmental science, 

education, or a related field is preferred

• Experience interacting with children, small groups and/or large audiences, and the ability to 

adapt programs to audience age level and size is required

• Experience working in a similar guest-related industry such as hospitality, performing arts, 

teaching, or zoo/aquarium and museum interpretation preferred

• Experience in STEM programming; development and implementation are preferred

• Must be willing to go through an additional background check required by the UT Public Local 

Education Agency (LEA)

• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus

Critical Skills/Competencies:

• Willingness to go beyond expectations to create a fun and safe environment for guests (and 

staff alike); Skills include spoken, written, and visual communication skills; active listening; 

and understanding guest needs and using appropriate judgement to fulfill those needs

• Be punctual, communicate clearly with supervisors, and adhere to all attendance protocols

• Take direction and evaluation feedback well, ask questions, and collaborate with others 

while maintaining a professional work attitude. Interpretation evaluation and coaching is a 

key part of our team’s growth and success 

• Ability to quickly learn complex and/or factual information, then communicate it to a wide 

variety of age groups in an engaging and creative manner

• Knowledge of science processes, marine biology, zoology and/or ecology with willingness to 

increase knowledge

• Ability to engage with guests for over 2 hours in one continuous session. 

• Ability to operate company vehicles and follow vehicle protocol. Must keep a favorable driving 

record and be willing to permit a periodic review of your driving record, if necessary

• Ability to follow detailed daily interpretation and monthly shift schedules 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and continually evolving environment

• Basic computer knowledge and skills

• Exception customer service skills

• A valid Utah driver’s license, or the willingness to acquire one within 30 days of hire date, is 

required. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Collect engagement materials (example biofacts), and open and close galleries 

• Deliver high quality interpretive experiences throughout our galleries including engaging 

presentations and demonstrations

• Engage with guests during public hours and after-hours events 

• Understand, support and share with others LLPA’s mission and vision

• Assist in maintaining a clean working environment; ensure all areas of the Aquarium are 

organized and hazard free

• Prepare, manage and utilize presentation supplies and materials appropriately

• Assist in educational events and additional programs as needed

• Provide event support to Guest Services as needed, including greeting event guests.

• Additional duties as assigned 

Physical Demands and Scope of the Job:

• Must be able to stand during long periods of guest engagement. Must be comfortable 

working under a wide range of temperature (30-90+°F), noise, and light conditions, including 

indoor and outdoor settings 

• Schedule may include weekends, evenings, and holidays (excluding Thanksgiving Day and 

Christmas Day)

• Event Educator positions require a minimum of four evenings of availability. Shift times vary 

and may start as early as 4:30 PM and end as late as 10:30 PM. Scheduled days may shift 

weekly or seasonally based on the education department’s programming needs with the 

occasional daytime event as needed.

• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

Benefits & Perks

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Pet insurance and discounts

• Free Aquarium membership

• Discounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchases

• Free and discounted animal encounters

• Footwear discounts

• Entertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work


While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the 

tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this 

job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the 

noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence

to the policies. The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment 

for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, 

gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic 

information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring 

individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview 

process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.