The median pay for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is $76,780 a year ($36.91/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.6% through 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-1023
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Wildlife Biologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $76,780a year, or $36.91/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $49KTop 10% $126K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.6%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,40019,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202519.5K
- Projected 203520.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 19.5K Projected 2035 20.2K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Aquatic Biologist, Conservation Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist, Fisheries Biologist, Habitat Biologist.
Pay
How much do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make?
Every wildlife biologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$76,780
Middle half earn $61,180 to $96,100
- 10th
- $49,100
- 25th
- $61,180
- 75th
- $96,100
- 90th
- $126,440
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $49,100 |
| 25th | $61,180 |
| Median | $76,780 |
| 75th | $96,100 |
| 90th | $126,440 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $76,780
- Median hourly wage
- $36.91/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $83,020
- People employed
- 18,120
Versus all US occupations
At $76,780, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn 51% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $25,800 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 7% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $126,440 or more while the bottom 10% earn $49,100, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 53% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Maryland pays the most at $107,500, and still leads at $102,421 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Maryland | $107,500 | $102,421 | 250 |
| 2District of Columbia | $107,050 | $97,406 | 140 |
| 3California | $98,530 | $88,990 | 2,210 |
| 4Alaska | $90,370 | $88,287 | 650 |
| 5Mississippi | $88,710 | $102,021 | 110 |
| 6Louisiana | $87,460 | $99,153 | 50 |
| 7Oregon | $85,150 | $82,381 | 1,010 |
| 8Hawaii | $84,910 | $77,225 | 170 |
| 9Massachusetts | $84,350 | $79,758 | 470 |
| 10Washington | $83,780 | $78,290 | 1,840 |
Job outlook
Is Wildlife Biologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | +3.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists to change 3.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, 7.2% of the 19,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Some zoologists and wildlife biologists are expected to be needed to help combat the loss of biodiversity caused by human activities, as well as to research changes in ecosystems. These workers also may be needed to develop and implement conservation plans to reduce threats to animals and protect natural resources. However, demand for zoologists and wildlife biologists may be limited by budgetary constraints, as a substantial portion of the funding for zoologists and wildlife biologists originates from various governmental agencies at federal, state, and local levels.
Getting in
How to become a Wildlife Biologist
Zoologists and wildlife biologists typically need a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions and may need a master’s degree for higher level jobs. They typically need a Ph.D. to lead research projects.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Wildlife Biologist do?
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.
Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals, those both in captivity and in the wild, and how they interact with their ecosystems. They focus primarily on undomesticated animals and their behavior, as well as on the impact humans have on wildlife and natural habitats.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
- 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.
- Conduct literature reviews.
- Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
- Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
- Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.
- Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.
- Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most zoologists and wildlife biologists work full time. They may have irregular schedules, especially when doing fieldwork. Zoologists and wildlife biologists who work with nocturnal animals may need to work at night.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where zoologists and wildlife biologists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals66%
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services10%
- Social advocacy organizations7%
- Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences3%
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 66% |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 10% |
| Social advocacy organizations | 7% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 3% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Science4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Monitoring3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Science | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Coordination3.8
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Time Management3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Wildlife Biologist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Wildlife Biologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative7.0
- Realistic5.4
- Conventional3.7
- Social2.5
- Enterprising2.3
- Artistic2.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Wildlife Biologist
O*NET related occupations
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More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with zoologists and wildlife biologists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Wildlife Biologist$76,780
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Wildlife Biologist | $76,780 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within wildlife biologist
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Wildlife Biologist appears on
Questions
Wildlife Biologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make?
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn a median of $76,780 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 51% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $36.91/hr. The middle half earn between $61,180 and $96,100. The top 10% earn $126,440 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Wildlife Biologist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Wildlife Biologist a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.6% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Wildlife Biologist do?
Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals, those both in captivity and in the wild, and how they interact with their ecosystems. A core O*NET task: inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists the most?
The highest state medians for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists are Maryland ($107,500), District of Columbia ($107,050), California ($98,530) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Wildlife Biologist?
O*NET scores Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, ISTP, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.