Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: salary, outlook & degrees
Study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.
Middle half $61,180–$96,100. 18,120 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,400 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $107,500 |
| District of Columbia | $107,050 |
| California | $98,530 |
| Alaska | $90,370 |
| Mississippi | $88,710 |
| Louisiana | $87,460 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Hawaii | $84,910 |
| Massachusetts | $84,350 |
| Washington | $83,780 |
| Colorado | $83,300 |
| New Jersey | $83,030 |
| Iowa | $83,000 |
| New York | $82,640 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 |
| Illinois | $79,780 |
| Vermont | $79,620 |
| Michigan | $79,150 |
| Montana | $78,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,540 |
| Connecticut | $77,300 |
| Missouri | $76,400 |
| Nevada | $75,180 |
| Ohio | $74,550 |
| Maine | $74,490 |
| Alabama | $74,290 |
| Wyoming | $74,150 |
| Utah | $73,920 |
| Tennessee | $73,570 |
| New Hampshire | $73,560 |
| Idaho | $73,360 |
| Virginia | $72,340 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 |
| Wisconsin | $68,370 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 |
| Arizona | $66,880 |
| Kansas | $66,440 |
| Georgia | $66,210 |
| South Dakota | $65,890 |
| North Carolina | $64,620 |
| South Carolina | $64,090 |
| Oklahoma | $62,730 |
| Kentucky | $61,950 |
| Nebraska | $57,890 |
| PR | $57,110 |
| Indiana | $54,670 |
| Florida | $52,750 |
| Texas | $49,100 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA$96,450
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro OR-WA$89,880
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI$61,050
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont CA$99,230
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater FL$55,050
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV$104,330
- Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater WA$82,500
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad CA$93,500
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$49,100
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach FL$53,230
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN$79,780
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom CA$84,620
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Science
Knowledge used
- Biology
- English Language
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Law and Government
Work styles
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Integrity
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Realistic (hands-on) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: questions
How much do zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make?
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn a U.S. median $76,780 a year; the middle half earn $61,180 to $96,100 (BLS, May 2025).
Is zoologists and Wildlife Biologists a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a zoologists and Wildlife Biologist?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree.
How much do zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $52,750 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $76,780 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-1023. Method
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Cite this: “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/zoologists-and-wildlife-biologists.