Zoologists and wildlife biologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Mean (average) | $83,020 | $39.91 |
| 90th percentile | $126,440 | $60.79 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Zoologists and wildlife biologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,290 | $47,120 | $99,600 | 290 | 1.17 |
| Alaska | $90,370 | $59,280 | $126,920 | 650 | 17.18 |
| Arizona | $66,880 | $48,400 | $96,100 | 410 | 1.07 |
| California | $98,530 | $58,380 | $177,760 | 2,210 | 1.04 |
| Colorado | $83,300 | $60,590 | $116,390 | 730 | 2.18 |
| Connecticut | $77,300 | $50,440 | $118,110 | 110 | 0.53 |
| District of Columbia | $107,050 | $85,190 | $161,470 | 140 | 1.74 |
| Florida | $52,750 | $39,900 | $97,660 | 1,400 | 1.21 |
| Georgia | $66,210 | $54,970 | $115,150 | 200 | 0.35 |
| Hawaii | $84,910 | $65,650 | $125,630 | 170 | 2.28 |
| Idaho | $73,360 | $49,840 | $96,100 | 380 | 3.83 |
| Illinois | $79,780 | $55,690 | $112,900 | 250 | 0.35 |
| Indiana | $54,670 | $44,180 | $76,900 | 120 | 0.33 |
| Iowa | $83,000 | $59,850 | $90,420 | 90 | 0.52 |
| Kansas | $66,440 | $54,850 | $77,290 | 160 | 0.95 |
| Kentucky | $61,950 | $46,960 | $83,040 | 150 | 0.64 |
| Louisiana | $87,460 | $65,400 | $119,430 | 50 | 0.21 |
| Maine | $74,490 | $51,690 | $97,680 | 330 | 4.48 |
| Maryland | $107,500 | $63,060 | $156,750 | 250 | 0.79 |
| Massachusetts | $84,350 | $45,310 | $138,940 | 470 | 1.12 |
| Michigan | $79,150 | $58,720 | $104,250 | 330 | 0.65 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | $45,630 | $101,210 | 720 | 2.1 |
| Mississippi | $88,710 | $52,610 | $141,130 | 110 | 0.84 |
| Missouri | $76,400 | $57,620 | $108,080 | 120 | 0.35 |
| Montana | $78,850 | $62,540 | $96,100 | 430 | 7.24 |
| Nebraska | $57,890 | $45,350 | $83,350 | 140 | 1.19 |
| Nevada | $75,180 | $49,600 | $119,090 | 190 | 1.04 |
| New Hampshire | $73,560 | $48,660 | $108,850 | 40 | 0.52 |
| New Jersey | $83,030 | $59,420 | $128,790 | 90 | 0.19 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 | $51,080 | $96,100 | 170 | 1.63 |
| New York | $82,640 | $58,240 | $117,860 | 370 | 0.33 |
| North Carolina | $64,620 | $48,370 | $122,120 | 350 | 0.6 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 | $55,700 | $103,500 | 100 | 2.09 |
| Ohio | $74,550 | $45,700 | $108,930 | 220 | 0.34 |
| Oklahoma | $62,730 | $48,650 | $88,610 | 120 | 0.62 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | $54,640 | $113,350 | 1,010 | 4.41 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,540 | $48,060 | $113,920 | 200 | 0.28 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,110 | $41,600 | $96,100 | ||
| South Carolina | $64,090 | $46,740 | $111,830 | 250 | 0.91 |
| South Dakota | $65,890 | $53,410 | $87,640 | 170 | 3.24 |
| Tennessee | $73,570 | $50,840 | $99,330 | 310 | 0.81 |
| Texas | $49,100 | $39,800 | $106,020 | 580 | 0.35 |
| Utah | $73,920 | $51,060 | $96,100 | 370 | 1.82 |
| Vermont | $79,620 | $65,690 | $98,340 | 70 | 2 |
| Virginia | $72,340 | $49,960 | $104,920 | 290 | 0.61 |
| Washington | $83,780 | $62,070 | $129,850 | 1,840 | 4.44 |
| Wisconsin | $68,370 | $42,950 | $91,170 | 360 | 1.04 |
| Wyoming | $74,150 | $56,420 | $90,920 | 320 | 9.9 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for zoologists and wildlife biologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for zoologists and wildlife biologists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management CIP 03.0601
- Zoology/Animal Biology CIP 26.0701
- Entomology CIP 26.0702
- Animal Physiology CIP 26.0707
- Animal Behavior and Ethology CIP 26.0708
- Wildlife Biology CIP 26.0709
- Zoology/Animal Biology, Other CIP 26.0799
- Ecology CIP 26.1301
- Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography CIP 26.1302
- Evolutionary Biology CIP 26.1303
- Environmental Biology CIP 26.1305
- Marine Sciences CIP 30.3201
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
- Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs.
- Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.
- Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
- Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
- Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.
- Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.
- Conduct literature reviews.
Technology skills
- ESRI ArcGIS software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Computer modeling software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database management software
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Systems Analysis, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Aquatic Biologist, Conservation Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist, Fisheries Biologist, Habitat Biologist, Migratory Game Bird Biologist, Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Refuge Specialist, Zoologist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make?
The national median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists was $76,780 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $49,100 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $126,440. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do zoologists and wildlife biologists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is zoologists and wildlife biologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of zoologists and wildlife biologists to change +3.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay zoologists and wildlife biologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($107,500), District of Columbia ($107,050), California ($98,530). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.