Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for zoologists and wildlife biologistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $83,020 ≈ $40/hr
National median salary $76,780
Total employment 18,120 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +1.6%
Slower than average
Annual openings 1,400 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 18,200 → 18,500 (+300)
Typical entry education Bachelor's degree
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- District of Columbia$117,980
- California$111,800
- Maryland$104,320
- Mississippi$93,740
- Hawaii$92,250
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $117,980 | $107,050 | $57 | +42.1% | 140 |
| 2 | California | $111,800 | $98,530 | $54 | +34.7% | 2,210 |
| 3 | Maryland | $104,320 | $107,500 | $50 | +25.7% | 250 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $93,740 | $88,710 | $45 | +12.9% | 110 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $92,250 | $84,910 | $44 | +11.1% | 170 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $92,150 | $83,030 | $44 | +11% | 90 |
| 7 | Washington | $91,970 | $83,780 | $44 | +10.8% | 1,840 |
| 8 | Alaska | $91,560 | $90,370 | $44 | +10.3% | 650 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $90,780 | $84,350 | $44 | +9.3% | 470 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $89,860 | $87,460 | $43 | +8.2% | 50 |
| 11 | Colorado | $86,710 | $83,300 | $42 | +4.4% | 730 |
| 12 | Oregon | $85,550 | $85,150 | $41 | +3% | 1,010 |
| 13 | New York | $85,340 | $82,640 | $41 | +2.8% | 370 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $84,390 | $77,300 | $41 | +1.7% | 110 |
| 15 | Missouri | $83,160 | $76,400 | $40 | +0.2% | 120 |
| 16 | Vermont | $82,320 | $79,620 | $40 | -0.8% | 70 |
| 17 | Illinois | $82,210 | $79,780 | $40 | -1% | 250 |
| 18 | Iowa | $80,120 | $83,000 | $39 | -3.5% | 90 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $79,930 | $81,330 | $38 | -3.7% | 100 |
| 20 | Michigan | $79,570 | $79,150 | $38 | -4.2% | 330 |
| 21 | Nevada | $79,540 | $75,180 | $38 | -4.2% | 190 |
| 22 | Montana | $78,740 | $78,850 | $38 | -5.2% | 430 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $78,660 | $78,540 | $38 | -5.3% | 200 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $77,110 | $73,560 | $37 | -7.1% | 40 |
| 25 | Virginia | $76,780 | $72,340 | $37 | -7.5% | 290 |
| 26 | Maine | $76,560 | $74,490 | $37 | -7.8% | 330 |
| 27 | Ohio | $75,890 | $74,550 | $36 | -8.6% | 220 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $75,360 | $73,570 | $36 | -9.2% | 310 |
| 29 | Idaho | $75,200 | $73,360 | $36 | -9.4% | 380 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $75,060 | $64,620 | $36 | -9.6% | 350 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $74,710 | $74,150 | $36 | -10% | 320 |
| 32 | Alabama | $74,110 | $74,290 | $36 | -10.7% | 290 |
| 33 | Georgia | $73,880 | $66,210 | $36 | -11% | 200 |
| 34 | Utah | $73,730 | $73,920 | $35 | -11.2% | 370 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $73,400 | $68,220 | $35 | -11.6% | 170 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $71,910 | $68,620 | $35 | -13.4% | 720 |
| 37 | Arizona | $71,270 | $66,880 | $34 | -14.2% | 410 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $70,880 | $68,370 | $34 | -14.6% | 360 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $70,430 | $64,090 | $34 | -15.2% | 250 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $69,120 | $65,890 | $33 | -16.7% | 170 |
| 41 | Kansas | $67,750 | $66,440 | $33 | -18.4% | 160 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $64,970 | $61,950 | $31 | -21.7% | 150 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $64,660 | $62,730 | $31 | -22.1% | 120 |
| 44 | Texas | $64,620 | $49,100 | $31 | -22.2% | 580 |
| 45 | Florida | $61,260 | $52,750 | $29 | -26.2% | 1,400 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $60,530 | $57,890 | $29 | -27.1% | 140 |
| 47 | Indiana | $58,170 | $54,670 | $28 | -29.9% | 120 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 142 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,940 | $107,240 | 40 |
| 2 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,170 | $122,660 | 30 |
| 3 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $113,800 | $101,870 | 30 |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,330 | $115,330 | 270 |
| 5 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $99,490 | $97,160 | 100 |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,230 | $105,110 | 300 |
| 7 | Salem, OR | $98,110 | $90,870 | 80 |
| 8 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $97,040 | $95,980 | 80 |
| 9 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,450 | $105,140 | 720 |
| 10 | Worcester, MA | $93,930 | $93,320 | 70 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing zoologists and wildlife biologistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utilities | $111,830 | $116,880 | 50 |
| 2 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $111,830 | $104,730 | 40 |
| 3 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $111,830 | $116,880 | 50 |
| 4 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $105,910 | $99,620 | — |
| 5 | Engineering Services | $103,980 | $106,920 | 300 |
| 6 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $103,700 | $106,580 | 310 |
| 7 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $93,810 | $101,300 | 3,540 |
| 8 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $93,810 | $101,300 | 3,540 |
| 9 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $85,940 | $102,790 | 2,890 |
| 10 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $85,940 | $102,790 | 2,890 |
| 11 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $85,260 | $92,850 | 560 |
| 12 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $84,570 | $105,070 | 2,010 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in the U.S.?
The median zoologists and wildlife biologists salary in the United States is $76,780 per year (mean $83,020), and about 80% earn between $49,100 and $126,440.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make per hour?
Roughly $40 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $83,020 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays zoologists and wildlife biologists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest average pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists at $117,980 per year (median $107,050).
What is the job outlook for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Employment is projected to change +1.6% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 1,400 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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