Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,100
- 25th Percentile — Junior$61,180
- 50th Percentile — Median$76,780
- 75th Percentile — Senior$96,100
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$126,440
The top 10% of Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn $126,440 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $49,100, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $117,980 | +42.1% |
| California | $111,800 | +34.7% |
| Maryland | $104,320 | +25.7% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $95,473 | +15.0% |
| Mississippi | $93,740 | +12.9% |
| Hawaii | $92,250 | +11.1% |
| New Jersey | $92,150 | +11.0% |
| Washington | $91,970 | +10.8% |
| Alaska | $91,560 | +10.3% |
| Massachusetts | $90,780 | +9.3% |
| Louisiana | $89,860 | +8.2% |
| Delaware (est.) | $87,171 | +5.0% |
| Colorado | $86,710 | +4.4% |
| Oregon | $85,550 | +3.0% |
| New York | $85,340 | +2.8% |
| Connecticut | $84,390 | +1.7% |
| Missouri | $83,160 | +0.2% |
| Vermont | $82,320 | -0.8% |
| Illinois | $82,210 | -1.0% |
| Iowa | $80,120 | -3.5% |
| North Dakota | $79,930 | -3.7% |
| Michigan | $79,570 | -4.2% |
| Nevada | $79,540 | -4.2% |
| Montana | $78,740 | -5.2% |
| Pennsylvania | $78,660 | -5.3% |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 | -7.1% |
| Virginia | $76,780 | -7.5% |
| Maine | $76,560 | -7.8% |
| Ohio | $75,890 | -8.6% |
| Tennessee | $75,360 | -9.2% |
| Idaho | $75,200 | -9.4% |
| North Carolina | $75,060 | -9.6% |
| Wyoming | $74,710 | -10.0% |
| Alabama | $74,110 | -10.7% |
| Georgia | $73,880 | -11.0% |
| Utah | $73,730 | -11.2% |
| New Mexico | $73,400 | -11.6% |
| Minnesota | $71,910 | -13.4% |
| Arizona | $71,270 | -14.2% |
| Wisconsin | $70,880 | -14.6% |
| South Carolina | $70,430 | -15.2% |
| South Dakota | $69,120 | -16.7% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $68,907 | -17.0% |
| Kansas | $67,750 | -18.4% |
| Kentucky | $64,970 | -21.7% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $64,756 | -22.0% |
| Oklahoma | $64,660 | -22.1% |
| Texas | $64,620 | -22.2% |
| Florida | $61,260 | -26.2% |
| Nebraska | $60,530 | -27.1% |
| Indiana | $58,170 | -29.9% |
What Factors Affect Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $117,980, while Indiana pays $58,170 — a gap of $59,810 per year.
The middle half of Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn between $61,180 and $96,100 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,100, while the top 10% earn more than $126,440.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
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 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
The average salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in the United States is $83,020 per year, with a median of $76,780.
What is the starting salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
Entry-level Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists typically earn between $49,100 and $61,180 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists the most?
District of Columbia pays Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists the most at $117,980 per year on average, followed by California ($111,800) and Maryland ($104,320).
How much do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $83,020, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn approximately $39.91 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 18,120 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $83,020 and a median of $76,780 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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