What is the salary range for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salaries in the US range from $48,240 at the 10th percentile to $113,350 at the 90th percentile per year.

How many Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists are there in the United States?

An estimated 16,920 people work as Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists across the United States as of 2024.

Average Salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

SOC 19-1023 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data

The median annual wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in the United States is $72,860 ($35.03/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $48,240 at the 10th percentile to $113,350 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 16,920 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 25% since 2014.

Median Annual

$72,860

Mean Annual

$77,920

10th Pct

$48,240

75th Pct

$90,590

Employment

16,920

Salary Distribution

$48k

10th

$58k

25th

$73k

Median

$91k

75th

$113k

90th

Highest Paying Metro Areas

Metro Area	Median Annual	Mean Annual
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$121,890	$120,570
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$113,030	$110,120
Salem, OR	$98,110	$94,110
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$97,810	$105,920
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$94,370	$99,170
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$93,640	$102,320
Bellingham, WA	$90,950	$89,540
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$90,900	$95,780
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$90,620	$97,290
Bismarck, ND	$88,820	$82,890
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$88,360	$91,440
Worcester, MA	$87,910	$89,010
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$86,960	$100,570
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$86,200	$96,520
Corvallis, OR	$85,150	$81,430

Salary by State

State	Median Annual	Mean Annual	Employment
Rhode Island	$97,050	$97,070	50
Massachusetts	$88,550	$98,390	320
Mississippi	$87,050	$94,330	120
Louisiana	$85,840	$87,260	50
Oregon	$85,150	$84,550	970
Alaska	$84,640	$86,060	690
California	$82,620	$91,460	1,580
Maryland	$82,600	$95,790	270
North Dakota	$82,150	$80,440	100
Washington	$82,050	$90,370	1,800
Iowa	$80,590	$82,770	100
Michigan	$79,020	$79,550	320
Illinois	$78,620	$80,240	160
Missouri	$77,380	$82,200	150
New Jersey	$77,380	$86,480	90
Colorado	$77,320	$82,340	780
Vermont	$75,370	$77,050	70
Ohio	$75,030	$74,870	310
Hawaii	$74,110	$84,060	200
Wyoming	$74,060	$70,200	400
West Virginia	$73,780	$75,380	100
Idaho	$72,760	$74,970	310
Connecticut	$72,030	$76,850	110
Arkansas	$71,690	$73,040	120
Pennsylvania	$70,550	$72,360	210
Minnesota	$70,510	$72,870	490
Arizona	$70,370	$73,840	410
Utah	$69,990	$70,090	350
New Hampshire	$69,430	$69,960	90
Maine	$66,910	$72,160	280
Virginia	$66,550	$71,720	370
New Mexico	$66,480	$71,990	170
Wisconsin	$65,960	$68,840	400
Alabama	$64,860	$66,520	310
Montana	$64,060	$75,210	370
Georgia	$63,530	$70,690	200
Kansas	$63,270	$64,560	160
South Dakota	$62,200	$65,880	200
North Carolina	$61,930	$69,550	350
South Carolina	$61,490	$65,600	230
Nevada	$60,650	$64,230	180
Tennessee	$59,950	$65,370	210
Oklahoma	$57,400	$60,150	110
Kentucky	$56,700	$60,010	150
Nebraska	$55,080	$59,920	160
Indiana	$53,190	$56,540	130
Florida	$51,420	$59,600	1,210
Texas	$50,610	$62,310	550
Puerto Rico	$42,640	$50,670	70

Salary by Industry

National median wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.

Industry	Median Annual	Employment
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)	$92,060	3,760
Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$92,060	3,760
Engineering Services	$86,270	320
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$86,270	320
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$79,200	580
Scientific Research and Development Services	$79,200	580
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$77,610	890
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$77,300	930
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$75,030	11,680
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$75,030	11,680
Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)	$74,960	12,150
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$74,270	2,550
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$74,270	2,550
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$67,440	130
Educational Services	$67,440	150
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$67,370	7,040
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$67,170	7,460
Educational Services	$67,040	610
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$66,680	—
Administrative and Support Services	$66,680	—
Cross-industry, Private Ownership only	$64,140	4,770
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$63,910	1,640
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$58,720	1,250
Other Services (except Public Administration)	$58,720	1,250
Social Advocacy Organizations	$58,720	1,150
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions	$48,310	460
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$48,310	460
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions	$48,310	460
Elementary and Secondary Schools	$44,310	40

National Wage Trend

View data table

Year	Median Annual	Mean Annual	Employment
2024	$72,860	$77,920	16,920
2023	$70,600	$75,740	17,100
2022	$67,430	$72,610	17,410
2021	$64,650	$70,300	15,930
2020	$66,350	$70,510	17,200
2019	$63,270	$67,200	19,250
2018	$63,420	$67,760	17,860
2017	$62,290	$66,250	17,710
2016	$60,520	$64,890	17,720
2015	$59,680	$64,230	17,910
2014	$58,270	$63,230	18,970