Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Do?
Typical responsibilities of zoologists and wildlife biologists cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective zoologists and wildlife biologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Animal Behaviorist
- Animal Biologist
- Aquarist
- Aquatic Biologist
- Behaviorist
- Cell Biologist
- Conservation Biologist
- Cryptozoologist
Job Outlook
There are about 161,149 zoologists and wildlife biologists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -1.2% over the projection horizon.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $55,554 |
| Hourly median | $26.71 |
| 10th percentile | $33,591 |
| 25th percentile | $44,573 |
| 75th percentile | $66,536 |
| 90th percentile | $77,518 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $97,050 |
| Massachusetts | $88,550 |
| Mississippi | $87,050 |
| Louisiana | $85,840 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Alaska | $84,640 |
| California | $82,620 |
| Maryland | $82,600 |
| North Dakota | $82,150 |
| Washington | $82,050 |
| Iowa | $80,590 |
| Michigan | $79,020 |
| Illinois | $78,620 |
| New Jersey | $77,380 |
| Missouri | $77,380 |
| Colorado | $77,320 |
| Vermont | $75,370 |
| Ohio | $75,030 |
| Hawaii | $74,110 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 |
| West Virginia | $73,780 |
| Idaho | $72,760 |
| Connecticut | $72,030 |
| Arkansas | $71,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,550 |
| Minnesota | $70,510 |
| Arizona | $70,370 |
| Utah | $69,990 |
| New Hampshire | $69,430 |
| Maine | $66,910 |
| Virginia | $66,550 |
| New Mexico | $66,480 |
| Wisconsin | $65,960 |
| Alabama | $64,860 |
| Montana | $64,060 |
| Georgia | $63,530 |
| Kansas | $63,270 |
| South Dakota | $62,200 |
| North Carolina | $61,930 |
| South Carolina | $61,490 |
| Nevada | $60,650 |
| Tennessee | $59,950 |
| Oklahoma | $57,400 |
| Kentucky | $56,700 |
| Nebraska | $55,080 |
| Indiana | $53,190 |
| Florida | $51,420 |
| Texas | $50,610 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,640 |
Where Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Earn the Most
Compensation for zoologists and wildlife biologists vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $82,096 | 32.8% | 5.20 |
| New England | $77,577 | 5.6% | 1.92 |
| Middle Atlantic | $77,336 | 3.4% | 0.58 |
| Rocky Mountains | $72,709 | 13.4% | 5.10 |
| Great Lakes | $71,533 | 8.0% | 0.72 |
| Plains States | $68,975 | 8.2% | 1.67 |
| Southeast | $60,609 | 20.7% | 0.93 |
| Southwest | $59,921 | 7.5% | 0.84 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $121,890 | 230 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | MS | $113,030 | 30 |
| Salem, OR | OR | $98,110 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $97,810 | 260 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $94,370 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $93,640 | 180 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $90,950 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $90,900 | 160 |
Which Industries Hire Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
The largest employers of zoologists and wildlife biologists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,550 | $74,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,250 | $58,720 |
| Educational Services | 610 | $67,040 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 460 | $48,310 |
Below are examples of industries where zoologists and wildlife biologists work:
Tech Stack
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Python (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of zoologists and wildlife biologists tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Most zoologists and wildlife biologists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Animal Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Microbiologists (Supplemental)
- Biologists (Primary-Short)
- Conservation Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Range Managers (Primary-Short)
- Foresters (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future zoologists and wildlife biologists often complete programs in:
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
10 programs across 2 majors
Natural Resources and Conservation
1 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists).
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