Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Career, Salary and Skills
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $76,780 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 18,120. Wage data is published for 145 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
19-1023.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$76,780
Hourly median
$36.91
Employment
18,120
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Science | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | 3.75 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.
- Conduct literature reviews.
Technology
- Computer modeling software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database management software
- Email software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcView
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Global positioning system GPS software
- HATPRO
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in CAMedian $98,530 · Employment 2,210
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in WAMedian $83,780 · Employment 1,840
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in FLMedian $52,750 · Employment 1,400
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in ORMedian $85,150 · Employment 1,010
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in COMedian $83,300 · Employment 730
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $96,450 · Employment 720
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in MNMedian $68,620 · Employment 720
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in AKMedian $90,370 · Employment 650
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in TXMedian $49,100 · Employment 580
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in MAMedian $84,350 · Employment 470
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in MTMedian $78,850 · Employment 430
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in AZMedian $66,880 · Employment 410
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.