How much does a zoologist and wildlife biologist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $36.91 an hour or $6,398 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.91
- Average (mean)
- $83,020
- Jobs
- 18,120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,100 | $23.61 | |
| 25th | $61,180 | $29.41 | |
| Median | $76,780 | $36.91 | |
| 75th | $96,100 | $46.20 | |
| 90th | $126,400 | $60.79 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Maryland | $107,500 |
| District of Columbia | $107,100 |
| California | $98,530 |
| Alaska | $90,370 |
| Mississippi | $88,710 |
| Louisiana | $87,460 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Hawaii | $84,910 |
| Massachusetts | $84,350 |
| Washington | $83,780 |
| Colorado | $83,300 |
| New Jersey | $83,030 |
| Iowa | $83,000 |
| New York | $82,640 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 |
| Illinois | $79,780 |
| Vermont | $79,620 |
| Michigan | $79,150 |
| Montana | $78,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,540 |
| Connecticut | $77,300 |
| Missouri | $76,400 |
| Nevada | $75,180 |
| Ohio | $74,550 |
| Maine | $74,490 |
| Alabama | $74,290 |
| Wyoming | $74,150 |
| Utah | $73,920 |
| Tennessee | $73,570 |
| New Hampshire | $73,560 |
| Idaho | $73,360 |
| Virginia | $72,340 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 |
| Wisconsin | $68,370 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 |
| Arizona | $66,880 |
| Kansas | $66,440 |
| Georgia | $66,210 |
| South Dakota | $65,890 |
| North Carolina | $64,620 |
| South Carolina | $64,090 |
| Oklahoma | $62,730 |
| Kentucky | $61,950 |
| Nebraska | $57,890 |
| Indiana | $54,670 |
| Florida | $52,750 |
| Texas | $49,100 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $129,900 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $122,200 |
| Gulfport, MS | $113,800 |
| Washington, DC | $104,300 |
| Baltimore, MD | $99,490 |
| San Francisco, CA | $99,230 |
| Salem, OR | $98,110 |
| Providence, RI | $97,040 |
| Seattle, WA | $96,450 |
| Worcester, MA | $93,930 |
| San Diego, CA | $93,500 |
| Portland, OR | $89,880 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $88,740 |
| Honolulu, HI | $88,240 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $86,670 |
In other countries
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist belongs to the international group "Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Animal Scientist$68,940
- Food Scientist and Technologist$88,720
- Soil and Plant Scientist$78,850
- Biochemist and Biophysicist$127,400
- Microbiologist$87,990
- Biological Scientist$98,920
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Forester$76,400
- Epidemiologist$87,220
- Medical Scientist$103,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a zoologist and wildlife biologist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $36.91 ($76,780 a year).
How much does a zoologist and wildlife biologist make a month?
About $6,398 a month before tax, based on a median of $76,780 a year.
How much does a zoologist and wildlife biologist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,100 or less a year ($23.61 an hour); the top 10% make $126,400 or more.
Which state pays zoologist and wildlife biologists the most?
Maryland, with a median of $107,500 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($107,100) and California ($98,530).
Which city pays zoologist and wildlife biologists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $129,900 a year.
How many zoologist and wildlife biologists are there in the United States?
About 18,120 people work as zoologist and wildlife biologists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.