Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Chicago, IL
In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Chicago, IL have a median annual salary of $79,780, with 190 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $51,720 at the 10th percentile to $112,900 at the 90th percentile.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22
Salary overview
Median annual salary
$79,780
Data year: 2025
Hourly median
$38.36
Employment
190
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS
Salary distribution
Local compared with national
Chicago, IL
$79,780
Median annual · 2025
United States
$76,780
Median annual · 2025
The Chicago, IL median is 3.9% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $3,000).
Top skills
- 1.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
- 2.Active ListeningImportance 4.0
- 3.WritingImportance 4.0
- 4.SpeakingImportance 4.0
- 5.ScienceImportance 4.0
- 6.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 4.0
- 7.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 4.0
- 8.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.9
- 9.Active LearningImportance 3.9
- 10.CoordinationImportance 3.8
- 11.Systems AnalysisImportance 3.4
- 12.MonitoringImportance 3.3
Career information
Education and experience
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
- Job zone
- 4
Technology used
- 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
- Microsoft Office software
Common 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.
- Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.
- Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.
Related careers
Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.
- Agricultural Technicians
- Hydrologists
- Forest and Conservation Workers
- Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Microbiologists
- Industrial Ecologists
- Forest and Conservation Technicians
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Biological Technicians
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary in other locations
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $129,940
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Santa Cruz, CAMedian $122,170
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Gulfport, MSMedian $113,800
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in MDMedian $107,500
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in DCMedian $107,050
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $104,330
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Baltimore, MDMedian $99,490
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $99,230
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in CAMedian $98,530
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Salem, ORMedian $98,110
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Providence, RIMedian $97,040
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $96,450
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