Careers / Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$76,780
United States, 2025
Employment
18,120
United States, 2025
Typical education
Not recorded
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$49,100
25th percentile
$61,180
75th percentile
$96,100
90th percentile
$126,440
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Science4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Monitoring3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 22 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
22
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Science | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.8 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $129,940 | 40 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $122,170 | 30 | 2025 |
| Gulfport, MS | $113,800 | 30 | 2025 |
| MD | $107,500 | 250 | 2025 |
| DC | $107,050 | 140 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $104,330 | 270 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $99,490 | 100 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $99,230 | 300 | 2025 |
| CA | $98,530 | 2,210 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | $98,110 | 80 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | $97,040 | 80 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $96,450 | 720 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | $93,930 | 70 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $93,500 | 250 | 2025 |
| AK | $90,370 | 650 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $89,880 | 350 | 2025 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $88,740 | 100 | 2025 |
| MS | $88,710 | 110 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $88,240 | 130 | 2025 |
| LA | $87,460 | 50 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.