Hospitality · Director
Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$70,000
25th percentile
P50
$145,000
Median
P75
$125,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Very Tight
Scarcity: 9/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
300-700
Active candidates nationally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
6% year-over-year
RETENTION
5 yr avg tenure
8% annual turnover
Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
New resort aquarium attractions; conservation-focused experiential tourism growing; Saudi mega-projects adding marine life
Also Known As
Marine Life Director (Resort), Head of Aquarium Operations, Director of Marine Programs, Aquarium & Marine Life Manager
What Does an Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life Do?
The Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life operates within luxury hotels, resorts, private clubs, and hospitality groups, overseeing guest experience, food and beverage operations, and property performance. Professionals in this role typically bring 12 to 20 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Director level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 300-700 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What Drives Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life Compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for an Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life is $145,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $70,000 to $125,000. Pay variation across this range is primarily driven by property size and star rating, revenue under management, brand affiliation (independent vs. flagged), market tier (gateway city vs. resort), and whether the role carries full P&L responsibility. Demand for this role is trending upward with 0.06% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life Career Path
Professionals who move into Aquarium Director / Director of Marine Life roles most commonly come from branded luxury hotel operations, food and beverage management, revenue management, or hospitality management programs at top-tier schools. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward multi-property or regional oversight, VP of operations for hotel groups, or independent resort ownership and advisory roles. The average tenure in this role is approximately 5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 8%.
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