Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Life, Physical, and Social Science · SOC 19-1023 · O*NET 19-1023.00
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.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn a median salary of $76,780 per year, ranking in the top 31% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.6% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do zoologists and wildlife biologists earn?
The median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists is $76,780. That puts zoologists and wildlife biologists at #257 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $49,100 |
| 25th percentile | $61,180 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $76,780 |
| 75th percentile | $96,100 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,440 |
| Median hourly wage | $36.91/hr |
Is zoologists and wildlife biologists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for zoologists and wildlife biologists is +3.6%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 19K positions in 2024 to 20K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do zoologists and wildlife biologists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working zoologists and wildlife biologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.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.
- 2.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.
- 3.Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.
- 4.Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.
- 5.Conduct literature reviews.
- 6.Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.
- 7.Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
- 8.Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
Top skills for zoologists and wildlife biologists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become zoologists and wildlife biologist?
The standard path into zoologists and wildlife biologists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about zoologists and wildlife biologists
What is the median salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
The median annual salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists is $76,780 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is zoologists and wildlife biologists a growing career?
BLS projects +3.6% growth for zoologists and wildlife biologists from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become zoologists and wildlife biologist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Related occupations within the Life, Physical, and Social Science category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.