Zoologists study animal biology, behavior, and ecosystems — a field that spans laboratory research, field work, government wildlife management, and conservation. The BLS median of $76,780 reflects a broad range of settings and roles.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for zoologists and wildlife biologists, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| 25th | $61,180 | $29.41 |
| 50th (median) | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| 75th | $96,100 | $46.20 |
| 90th | $126,440 | $60.79 |
| Average (mean) | $83,020 | $39.91 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
Zoologist Salary by Career Level
| Career Level | Degree | Median Salary | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Technician / Research Aide | Bachelor’s | $42,000 | $32,000–$52,000 |
| Wildlife Biologist / Zoologist I | Bachelor’s/Master’s | $60,000 | $46,000–$75,000 |
| Senior Biologist | Master’s/PhD | $78,000 | $62,000–$100,000 |
| Research Scientist / Lead | PhD | $98,000 | $78,000–$130,000 |
| Curator (Zoo/Aquarium) | Master’s/PhD | $75,000 | $58,000–$105,000 |
| University Professor | PhD | $85,000 | $60,000–$140,000+ |
Zoologist Salary by Employer
| Employer Type | Median Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Government (USFWS, BLM, NPS) | $84,000 | GS pay scale; competitive benefits |
| State Wildlife Agency | $60,000 | Fish & wildlife departments |
| University / Academia | $72,000 | Includes faculty and research staff |
| Zoo / Aquarium | $50,000 | High competition; curator roles higher |
| Environmental Consulting | $65,000 | Private-sector biology work |
| Conservation NGO | $50,000 | Below-market pay for mission-driven work |
| Military / DoD (habitat/wildlife) | $75,000 | Base natural resource management |
Zoologist Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $117,980 | $85,190 | $107,050 |
| 2 | California | $111,800 | $58,380 | $98,530 |
| 3 | Maryland | $104,320 | $63,060 | $107,500 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $93,740 | $52,610 | $88,710 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $92,250 | $65,650 | $84,910 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $92,150 | $59,420 | $83,030 |
| 7 | Washington | $91,970 | $62,070 | $83,780 |
| 8 | Alaska | $91,560 | $59,280 | $90,370 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $90,780 | $45,310 | $84,350 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $89,860 | $65,400 | $87,460 |
| 11 | Colorado | $86,710 | $60,590 | $83,300 |
| 12 | Oregon | $85,550 | $54,640 | $85,150 |
| 13 | New York | $85,340 | $58,240 | $82,640 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $84,390 | $50,440 | $77,300 |
| 15 | Missouri | $83,160 | $57,620 | $76,400 |
| 16 | Vermont | $82,320 | $65,690 | $79,620 |
| 17 | Illinois | $82,210 | $55,690 | $79,780 |
| 18 | Iowa | $80,120 | $59,850 | $83,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $79,930 | $55,700 | $81,330 |
| 20 | Michigan | $79,570 | $58,720 | $79,150 |
| 21 | Nevada | $79,540 | $49,600 | $75,180 |
| 22 | Montana | $78,740 | $62,540 | $78,850 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $78,660 | $48,060 | $78,540 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $77,110 | $48,660 | $73,560 |
| 25 | Virginia | $76,780 | $49,960 | $72,340 |
| 26 | Maine | $76,560 | $51,690 | $74,490 |
| 27 | Ohio | $75,890 | $45,700 | $74,550 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $75,360 | $50,840 | $73,570 |
| 29 | Idaho | $75,200 | $49,840 | $73,360 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $75,060 | $48,370 | $64,620 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $74,710 | $56,420 | $74,150 |
| 32 | Alabama | $74,110 | $47,120 | $74,290 |
| 33 | Georgia | $73,880 | $54,970 | $66,210 |
| 34 | Utah | $73,730 | $51,060 | $73,920 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $73,400 | $51,080 | $68,220 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $71,910 | $45,630 | $68,620 |
| 37 | Arizona | $71,270 | $48,400 | $66,880 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $70,880 | $42,950 | $68,370 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $70,430 | $46,740 | $64,090 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $69,120 | $53,410 | $65,890 |
| 41 | Kansas | $67,750 | $54,850 | $66,440 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $64,970 | $46,960 | $61,950 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $64,660 | $48,650 | $62,730 |
| 44 | Texas | $64,620 | $39,800 | $49,100 |
| 45 | Florida | $61,260 | $39,900 | $52,750 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $60,530 | $45,350 | $57,890 |
| 47 | Indiana | $58,170 | $44,180 | $54,670 |
| — | National | $83,020 | $49,100 | $76,780 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
Federal GS Pay for Wildlife Biologists
Wildlife biologists at US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service are typically hired at GS-7 through GS-13:
| GS Grade | Annual Base | Entry Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $49,960 | Bachelor’s + high GPA or internship |
| GS-9 | $62,107 | Master’s or equivalent experience |
| GS-11 | $75,200 | PhD or senior master’s + experience |
| GS-12 | $90,168 | Senior biologist / program lead |
| GS-13 | $107,233 | Lead scientist / branch chief |
Locality pay adds 15–30%+ in high-cost cities.
Zoology Career Specializations and Income Impact
| Specialization | Income Impact | Example Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Herpetology | Neutral | State agencies, zoos, academia |
| Ornithology | Neutral | Migratory bird programs; consulting |
| Marine Mammals | +5–10% | NOAA, Marine Mammal Center |
| Conservation Genetics | +10–20% | Growing biotech and conservation intersection |
| Wildlife Toxicology | +15–25% | EPA, environmental litigation support |
| GIS / Remote Sensing | +10–20% | Technical specialist premium |
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