Ecology and Evolutionary Biology degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in ecology and evolutionary biology earn a median $50,400 four years after finishing, across 62 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in ecology earn $52,473, $9,576 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is biological scientists (6%).
Median across 62 colleges; middle half $45,323–$53,518.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $36,309–$73,463. 895 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Ecology"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$16,835/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs ecology and evolutionary biology graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in ecology actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Scientists | 6% | $99,760 | +6.7% | — | — |
| Animal Caretakers | 4% | $35,360 | +12.1% | High school diploma or equivalent | RSC |
| Postsecondary Teachers | 3% | $82,250 | +6.0% | — | — |
| Other Managers | 2% | — | — | — | — |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Construction Managers | 2% | $114,990 | +9.1% | Bachelor's degree | ECR |
| Environmental Scientists And Specialists, Including Health | 2% | $82,220 | +6.1% | Bachelor's degree | IRC |
| Registered Nurses | 2% | $97,550 | +5.6% | Bachelor's degree | SCI |
These 8 jobs account for 23% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $54,553 (10) | $61,101 (141) |
| Connecticut | $52,766 (7) | — |
| Florida | $43,683 (5) | — |
| Minnesota | $45,822 (3) | — |
| New Jersey | $47,553 (3) | — |
| New York | $49,513 (6) | — |
| South Carolina | $45,323 (3) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where ecology and evolutionary biology graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 15 in Florida, 5 in Virginia, 21 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-ChicoCA | $64,274 | $13,766 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA | $63,525 | $13,750 |
| 3 | University of California-DavisCA | $62,011 | $19,951 |
| 4 | California State University-NorthridgeCA | $59,940 | $24,250 |
| 5 | California State University-Long BeachCA | $55,588 | $19,948 |
| 6 | California State University-FullertonCA | $53,518 | $17,623 |
| 7 | University of California-San DiegoCA | $52,701 | $18,834 |
| 8 | University of California-Los AngelesCA | $51,559 | $17,417 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA | $50,694 | $12,500 |
| 10 | University of California-Santa CruzCA | $49,821 | $18,887 |
| 11 | Eckerd CollegeFL | $48,631 | $27,000 |
| 12 | Nova Southeastern UniversityFL | $45,287 | $23,549 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology degree questions
How much do Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates make?
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates earn a median $50,400 four years after finishing, across 62 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $45,323 to $53,518; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in ecology, the median is $52,473 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Ecology and Evolutionary Biology degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in ecology earn a median $52,473: $9,576 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $16,835 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in ecology, the most common jobs are biological scientists (6%), animal caretakers (4%), postsecondary teachers (3%). Biological Scientists earn a U.S. median $99,760.
How much do Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates earn in Florida?
Across 5 Florida colleges reporting, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates earn a median $43,683 four years after graduating.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
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Cite this: “Ecology and Evolutionary Biology degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology.