Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 18K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$76,780
Median hourly
$37
Average annual
$83,020
Typical range
$49,100–$126,440
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is $76,780 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $37 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management.
Most earn between $49,100 and $126,440 a year. There are roughly 18K people employed as zoologists and wildlife biologists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists.
- Hourly
- $36.91
- Daily
- $295
- Weekly
- $1,477
- Bi-weekly
- $2,953
- Monthly
- $6,398
- Annual
- $76,780
$76,780 a year is around the 50th percentile for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologistss. The median is $76,780.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Maryland$107,500
- 2District of Columbia$107,050
- 3California$98,530
- 4Alaska$90,370
- 5Mississippi$88,710
- 6Louisiana$87,460
- 7Oregon$85,150
- 8Hawaii$84,910
- 9Massachusetts$84,350
- 10Washington$83,780
- 11Colorado$83,300
- 12New Jersey$83,030
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$129,940
- 2Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$122,170
- 3Gulfport-Biloxi, MS$113,800
- 4Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$104,330
- 5Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$99,490
- 6San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$99,230
- 7Salem, OR$98,110
- 8Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$97,040
- 9Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$96,450
- 10Worcester, MA$93,930
- 11San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$93,500
- 12Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$89,880
Related job titles
Employers advertise Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists roles under these titles.
- Animal Behaviorist
- Animal Biologist
- Behaviorist
- Conservation Biologist
- Cryptozoologist
- Ethologist
- Field Naturalist
- Fish and Wildlife Biologist
- Fish Biologist
- Fish Conservationist
- Fish Culturist
- Fish Technologist
- Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist
- Fisheries Biologist
- Fisheries Management Biologist
- Fishery Biologist
Related occupations
What a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists does
- 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.
- Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
- Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.
- Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
- 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.
- Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
- Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.
- Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make?
- The median annual wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is $76,780 ($37 per hour). Pay ranges from about $49,100 at the 10th percentile to $126,440 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $83,020, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Zoologists and Wildlife Biologistss the most?
- Maryland has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $107,500.
- Is Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 18K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists do?
- 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.; Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.; Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife..