Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary in the U.S.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in the U.S. earn a median of $76,780 a year ($36.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,440 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $83,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for zoologists and wildlife biologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| 25th percentile | $61,180 | $29.41 |
| Median | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| 75th percentile | $96,100 | $46.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,440 | $60.79 |
| Average (mean) | $83,020 | $39.91 |
Half of zoologists and wildlife biologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,398.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,199.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,953.08 |
| Weekly | $1,476.54 |
| Hourly | $36.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $107,500 | 250 |
| District of Columbia | $107,050 | 140 |
| California | $98,530 | 2,210 |
| Alaska | $90,370 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $88,710 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $87,460 | 50 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | 1,010 |
| Hawaii | $84,910 | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $84,350 | 470 |
| Washington | $83,780 | 1,840 |
| Colorado | $83,300 | 730 |
| New Jersey | $83,030 | 90 |
| Iowa | $83,000 | 90 |
| New York | $82,640 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 | 100 |
| Illinois | $79,780 | 250 |
| Vermont | $79,620 | 70 |
| Michigan | $79,150 | 330 |
| Montana | $78,850 | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,540 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $77,300 | 110 |
| Missouri | $76,400 | 120 |
| Nevada | $75,180 | 190 |
| Ohio | $74,550 | 220 |
| Maine | $74,490 | 330 |
| Alabama | $74,290 | 290 |
| Wyoming | $74,150 | 320 |
| Utah | $73,920 | 370 |
| Tennessee | $73,570 | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $73,560 | 40 |
| Idaho | $73,360 | 380 |
| Virginia | $72,340 | 290 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $68,370 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 | 170 |
| Arizona | $66,880 | 410 |
| Kansas | $66,440 | 160 |
| Georgia | $66,210 | 200 |
| South Dakota | $65,890 | 170 |
| North Carolina | $64,620 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $64,090 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $62,730 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $61,950 | 150 |
| Nebraska | $57,890 | 140 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,110 | n/a |
| Indiana | $54,670 | 120 |
| Florida | $52,750 | 1,400 |
| Texas | $49,100 | 580 |
Best-paying metro areas for zoologists and wildlife biologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,940 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,170 | 30 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $113,800 | 30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,330 | 270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $99,490 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,230 | 300 |
| Salem, OR | $98,110 | 80 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $97,040 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,450 | 720 |
| Worcester, MA | $93,930 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $93,500 | 250 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $89,880 | 350 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $88,740 | 100 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $88,240 | 130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $86,670 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most zoologists and wildlife biologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 720 | $96,450 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 350 | $89,880 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 310 | $61,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 300 | $99,230 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 300 | $55,050 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 270 | $104,330 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 250 | $82,500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 250 | $93,500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 240 | $49,100 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 240 | $53,230 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 190 | $79,780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 190 | $84,620 |
| Anchorage, AK | 180 | $85,130 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 180 | $48,130 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 180 | $67,970 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a zoologists and wildlife biologists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists in the U.S. is $76,780 a year, or $36.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid zoologists and wildlife biologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of zoologists and wildlife biologists in the U.S. earn at least $126,440 a year. The top 25% earn $96,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,100 a year, and a quarter of zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $61,180 or less.
How many zoologists and wildlife biologists work in the U.S.?
About 18,120 zoologists and wildlife biologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.