Aquarium Director pay range
State of North Carolina · class code 32000740
- Class code
- 32000740
- Pay group
- NC17
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- North Carolina
- The State of North Carolina published pay range for Aquarium Director is $60,881 to $106,544 per year.
- North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) keys this classification as class code 32000740.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Class specification
The OSHR class specification for this class is published by North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications. It was last revised 06/2018.
What the state says the job is
This is managerial and administrative work in managing a state aquarium or facility that promotes the state's aquatic environments. Responsible for technical and administrative supervision of aquarium staff including implementing short and long-term planning for the aquarium, setting priorities, interpreting the aquarium's direction as a part of the division's mission, and ensuring compliance with all required Association of Aquariums and Zoos (AZA) Accreditation, state, and federal laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Monitors the budget, and determines daily operational needs in the areas of maintenance, staffing, equipment, education, animal husbandry, exhibits, and facility expansion.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Considerable knowledge of the required administrative systems to support program operations. Working knowledge of exhibit development methods, aquatic life support systems, and facility management systems. Thorough knowledge of the goals, trends, and industry standards of public aquariums and of the principles of marine ecology, marine biology, and/or science education. Working knowledge of building codes and aquatic systems. Working knowledge of regional environmental issues. Ability to manage resources and to communicate goals and objectives effectively.
Minimum qualifications
Bachelor's degree in marine science, biology, zoology, science education or related field from an appropriately accredited institution and six years of management and administrative/supervisory experience at an aquarium, museum, zoo or related facility; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. <h2
Quoted from the OSHR class specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) publishes this figure in OSHR salary schedules, joined to Class Specifications. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
Job titles and their salary grades come from the Class Specifications, joined to the salary schedule.