19 Series · SOC 19-1023

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$76,780
Median / year
+5.4%
2024→2025
$126,440
Top 10% earn
+1.6%
Growth '24–'34
18,120
Estimated US jobs

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn a median of $76,780 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $76,780, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $49,100 (10th percentile) to $126,440 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 18,120 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Maryland ($107,500).

19 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn a median of $76,780, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 69% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #30 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.6% by 2034.

$76,780
Median annual wage
Top 31%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#30 of 48
in Life, Physical, and Social Science
2.6×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Maryland at $107,500. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists moved from $63,270 in May 2019 to $76,780 in May 2025 (+21.4%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists sits -3.1 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (SOC 19-1023) has a national median of $76,780 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $49,100 to $126,440, and the published mean is $83,020. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 18,120 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 48 state or territory areas and 139 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $72,860 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $76,780 in May 2025, a rise of $3,920 (+5.4%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 1,400 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Maryland pays the highest state median at $107,500, which is +40% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $129,940. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 18,120 jobs Median $76,780/yr

Median Salary

$76,780

per year

Median Hourly

$36.91/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$83,020

average

Employment

18,120

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$76,780 Top 31% higher than 69% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 (this entry) 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$76,780 · 69th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists sits on the slower-growing side at +1.6% growth and $76,780 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Medical Scientists, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.7% · Median annual wage: $103410Occupational Health … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.5% · Median annual wage: $90150Environmental Scient… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.4% · Median annual wage: $82220Chemists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $91240Clinical and Counsel… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 11.2% · Median annual wage: $100580Life, Physical, and … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.5% · Median annual wage: $62280Biological Technicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.5% · Median annual wage: $57510School Psychologists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $95990Chemical Technicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.7% · Median annual wage: $60390Biological Scientist… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $98920Urban and Regional P… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.4% · Median annual wage: $89320Social Scientists an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.7% · Median annual wage: $101110Environmental Scienc… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4% · Median annual wage: $55090Biochemists and Biop… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.8% · Median annual wage: $127410Social Science Resea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.4% · Median annual wage: $61990Occupational Health … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.5% · Median annual wage: $61560Forest and Conservat… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.2% · Median annual wage: $54560Conservation Scienti… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.4% · Median annual wage: $73010Geoscientists, Excep… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $101920Physical Scientists,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.6% · Median annual wage: $122570Physicists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4% · Median annual wage: $172250Forensic Science Tec… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.8% · Median annual wage: $72060Microbiologists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $87990Psychologists, All O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.3% · Median annual wage: $110840Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.6% · Median annual wage: $76780
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists sits on the slower-growing side at +1.6% growth and $76,780 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Medical Scientists, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $103410
  • Occupational Health …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.5%, Median annual wage $90150
  • Environmental Scient…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $82220
  • Chemists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $91240
  • Clinical and Counsel…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.2%, Median annual wage $100580
  • Life, Physical, and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $62280
  • Biological Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $57510
  • School Psychologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $95990
  • Chemical Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $60390
  • Biological Scientist…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $98920
  • Urban and Regional P…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $89320
  • Social Scientists an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.7%, Median annual wage $101110
  • Environmental Scienc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $55090
  • Biochemists and Biop…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.8%, Median annual wage $127410
  • Social Science Resea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $61990
  • Occupational Health …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $61560
  • Forest and Conservat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.2%, Median annual wage $54560
  • Conservation Scienti…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $73010
  • Geoscientists, Excep…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $101920
  • Physical Scientists,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $122570
  • Physicists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $172250
  • Forensic Science Tec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.8%, Median annual wage $72060
  • Microbiologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $87990
  • Psychologists, All O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $110840
  • Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.6%, Median annual wage $76780

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+1.6%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

1,400

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+300

18,200 (2024) → 18,500 (2034)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

1.5/100K

Injury Rate

0.7/100

Danger Index

3.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 4.0
Judgment and Decision Making 4.0
Writing 3.9
Science 3.9
Coordination 3.8
Active Learning 3.6

Knowledge Areas

Biology 4.8
English Language 3.8
Customer and Personal Service 3.7
Mathematics 3.4
Geography 3.4
Law and Government 3.3
Administration and Management 3.3
Communications and Media 3.0
Computers and Electronics 3.0
Education and Training 3.0

Key Tasks

  • 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.
  • Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.
  • 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.
  • Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$49,100
25th$61,180
Median$76,780
75th$96,100
90th$126,440

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$23.61
25th$29.41
Median$36.91
75th$46.20
90th$60.79

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $59,680National median - 2016: $60,520National median - 2017: $62,290National median - 2018: $63,420National median - 2019: $63,270National median - 2020: $66,350National median - 2021: $64,650National median - 2022: $67,430National median - 2023: $70,600National median - 2024: $72,860National median - 2025: $76,780$76,780
National median annual wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $59,680
2016 $60,520
2017 $62,290
2018 $63,420
2019 $63,270
2020 $66,350
2021 $64,650
2022 $67,430
2023 $70,600
2024 $72,860
2025 $76,780

2015 median

$59,680

2025 median

$76,780

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$13,510 (+21.4%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+3.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $59,680 First banked release 17,910
May 2016 $60,520 +1.4% 17,720
May 2017 $62,290 +2.9% 17,710
May 2018 $63,420 +1.8% 17,860
May 2019 $63,270 Classification break 19,250
May 2020 $66,350 +4.9% 17,200
May 2021 $64,650 -2.6% 15,930
May 2022 $67,430 +4.3% 17,410
May 2023 $70,600 +4.7% 17,100
May 2024 $72,860 +3.2% 16,920
May 2025 $76,780 +5.4% 18,120

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $59,680 in May 2015 to $76,780 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 19,250 in May 2019 to 18,120 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 48 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Maryland $107,500 +40% above national
2 District of Columbia $107,050 +39% above national
3 California $98,530 +28% above national
4 Alaska $90,370 +18% above national
5 Mississippi $88,710 +16% above national
6 Louisiana $87,460 +14% above national
7 Oregon $85,150 +11% above national
8 Hawaii $84,910 +11% above national
9 Massachusetts $84,350 +10% above national
10 Washington $83,780 +9% above national
11 Colorado $83,300 +8% above national
12 New Jersey $83,030 +8% above national
13 Iowa $83,000 +8% above national
14 New York $82,640 +8% above national
15 North Dakota $81,330 +6% above national
16 Illinois $79,780 +4% above national
17 Vermont $79,620 +4% above national
18 Michigan $79,150 +3% above national
19 Montana $78,850 +3% above national
20 Pennsylvania $78,540 +2% above national
21 Connecticut $77,300 +1% above national
22 Missouri $76,400 same as national
23 Nevada $75,180 2% below national
24 Ohio $74,550 3% below national
25 Maine $74,490 3% below national
26 Alabama $74,290 3% below national
27 Wyoming $74,150 3% below national
28 Utah $73,920 4% below national
29 Tennessee $73,570 4% below national
30 New Hampshire $73,560 4% below national
31 Idaho $73,360 4% below national
32 Virginia $72,340 6% below national
33 Minnesota $68,620 11% below national
34 Wisconsin $68,370 11% below national
35 New Mexico $68,220 11% below national
36 Arizona $66,880 13% below national
37 Kansas $66,440 13% below national
38 Georgia $66,210 14% below national
39 South Dakota $65,890 14% below national
40 North Carolina $64,620 16% below national
41 South Carolina $64,090 17% below national
42 Oklahoma $62,730 18% below national
43 Kentucky $61,950 19% below national
44 Nebraska $57,890 25% below national
45 Puerto Rico $57,110 26% below national
46 Indiana $54,670 29% below national
47 Florida $52,750 31% below national
48 Texas $49,100 36% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 97 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $129,940 +69% above national
2 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $122,170 +59% above national
3 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $113,800 +48% above national
4 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $104,330 +36% above national
5 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $99,490 +30% above national
6 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $99,230 +29% above national
7 Salem, OR $98,110 +28% above national
8 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $97,040 +26% above national
9 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $96,450 +26% above national
10 Worcester, MA $93,930 +22% above national
11 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $93,500 +22% above national
12 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $89,880 +17% above national
13 Fairbanks-College, AK $88,740 +16% above national
14 Urban Honolulu, HI $88,240 +15% above national
15 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $86,670 +13% above national
16 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $86,400 +13% above national
17 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $85,940 +12% above national
18 Bismarck, ND $85,330 +11% above national
19 Corvallis, OR $85,150 +11% above national
20 Anchorage, AK $85,130 +11% above national
21 Salinas, CA $84,900 +11% above national
22 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $84,620 +10% above national
23 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $84,500 +10% above national
24 Grand Junction, CO $84,360 +10% above national
25 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $84,240 +10% above national
26 Helena, MT $84,230 +10% above national
27 Bend, OR $83,780 +9% above national
28 Medford, OR $83,780 +9% above national
29 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $83,490 +9% above national
30 Boulder, CO $83,300 +8% above national
31 Bozeman, MT $83,230 +8% above national
32 Kennewick-Richland, WA $82,880 +8% above national
33 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $82,500 +7% above national
34 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $82,360 +7% above national
35 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $81,040 +6% above national
36 Eugene-Springfield, OR $80,990 +5% above national
37 Cleveland, OH $80,980 +5% above national
38 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $80,540 +5% above national
39 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $80,360 +5% above national
40 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $80,260 +5% above national
41 Mobile, AL $80,110 +4% above national
42 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $79,780 +4% above national
43 Columbia, SC $79,580 +4% above national
44 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $79,440 +3% above national
45 Richmond, VA $79,220 +3% above national
46 Reno, NV $79,160 +3% above national
47 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $79,010 +3% above national
48 Bangor, ME $79,000 +3% above national
49 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $78,850 +3% above national
50 Yakima, WA $78,460 +2% above national
51 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $78,380 +2% above national
52 Portland-South Portland, ME $77,290 +1% above national
53 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $77,280 +1% above national
54 Boise City, ID $77,210 +1% above national
55 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $76,600 same as national
56 Columbus, OH $75,400 2% below national
57 Montgomery, AL $75,210 2% below national
58 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $75,190 2% below national
59 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $74,710 3% below national
60 Missoula, MT $73,920 4% below national
61 Coeur d'Alene, ID $73,360 4% below national
62 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $73,280 5% below national
63 Colorado Springs, CO $72,860 5% below national
64 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $72,760 5% below national
65 Ogden, UT $72,160 6% below national
66 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $70,840 8% below national
67 Madison, WI $70,410 8% below national
68 Flagstaff, AZ $70,370 8% below national
69 Duluth, MN-WI $69,030 10% below national
70 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $68,200 11% below national
71 Rapid City, SD $68,100 11% below national
72 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $67,970 11% below national
73 Albuquerque, NM $67,930 12% below national
74 Santa Fe, NM $67,870 12% below national
75 Casper, WY $67,640 12% below national
76 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $66,790 13% below national
77 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $66,770 13% below national
78 Raleigh-Cary, NC $65,870 14% below national
79 Tucson, AZ $64,330 16% below national
80 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $63,520 17% below national
81 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $63,370 17% below national
82 Knoxville, TN $62,670 18% below national
83 Oklahoma City, OK $61,210 20% below national
84 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $61,050 20% below national
85 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $58,260 24% below national
86 Naples-Marco Island, FL $57,240 25% below national
87 Gainesville, FL $55,790 27% below national
88 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $55,050 28% below national
89 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $54,750 29% below national
90 Lincoln, NE $54,530 29% below national
91 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $53,230 31% below national
92 Tallahassee, FL $52,060 32% below national
93 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $50,000 35% below national
94 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $49,920 35% below national
95 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $49,100 36% below national
96 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $48,130 37% below national
97 Jacksonville, FL $48,110 37% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 19 (Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 47 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($76,780 here) and reported employment (18,120 jobs here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make?
The median annual salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is $76,780 ($36.91/hour). The salary range spans from $49,100 at the 10th percentile to $126,440 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $76,780, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay is higher than 69% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists the most?
Maryland pays the highest median salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists at $107,500/year, which is +40% above the national median.
What education do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists need?
BLS assigns Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists to Bachelor's degree for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in this release. WageDex shows the Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists a good career?
Employment for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is projected to grow 1.6% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 1,400 openings are projected each year.
How does Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay vary by state?
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Maryland at $107,500/year, while Texas pays the least at $49,100/year. BLS data covers 48 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $129,940/year. BLS reports a median for 97 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $96,100/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Maryland leads at $107,500/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.