📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$68,280
per year
Median
$63,280
per year
Hourly
$32.83
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,580
25th Percentile — Junior$57,780
50th Percentile — Median$63,280
75th Percentile — Senior$87,480
90th Percentile — Top Earners$98,698
💡 The top 10% of Zoologist and Wildlife Biologists earn $98,698 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $44,580, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$57.5k
2021
$59.5k
2022
$61.6k
2023
$63.7k
2024
$66.0k
2025
$68.3k
2026
📈 Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist salaries have grown 3.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $10,790.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $105,834 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $103,786 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $96,958 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $94,226 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $90,130 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $88,764 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $87,398 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $85,350 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $83,302 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $78,522 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $78,522 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $77,839 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $76,474 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $75,108 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $75,108 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $73,742 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $71,694 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $71,694 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $69,646 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $69,646 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $68,280 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $68,280 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $67,597 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $67,597 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $66,914 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $64,866 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $64,866 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $63,500 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $63,500 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $63,500 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $62,818 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $62,818 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $62,135 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $61,452 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $60,086 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $60,086 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $60,086 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $60,086 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $60,086 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $60,086 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $59,404 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $59,404 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $59,404 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $58,721 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $58,038 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $58,038 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $57,355 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $56,672 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $56,672 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $54,624 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $53,258 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Zoologist and Wildlife Biologists typically earn $44,580–$57,780 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $87,480–$98,698 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 3.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Science sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist?The average salary for a Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist in the United States is $68,280 per year, with a median of $63,280.
-
What is the starting salary for a Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist?Entry-level Zoologist and Wildlife Biologists typically earn between $44,580 and $57,780 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Zoologist and Wildlife Biologists the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Zoologist and Wildlife Biologists the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $68,280, a Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist earns approximately $32.83 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist a good career in 2026?Yes — the Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist role has medium demand with 3.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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