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Top 15 cities for zoologists and wildlife biologists by average salary
| Santa Cruz, CA | $122,660 |
|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $115,330 |
| San Jose, CA | $107,240 |
| Seattle, WA | $105,140 |
| San Francisco, CA | $105,110 |
| Gulfport, MS | $101,870 |
| Baltimore, MD | $97,160 |
| San Diego, CA | $96,760 |
| Honolulu, HI | $96,170 |
| Providence, RI | $95,980 |
| Bremerton, WA | $95,240 |
| Kennewick, WA | $94,860 |
| New York, NY | $94,290 |
| Worcester, MA | $93,320 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $92,680 |
Map: Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays zoologists and wildlife biologists the most statewide, $117,980 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $117,980 | $107,050 | 140 | 1 | $115,330 | $115,330 |
| California | $111,800 | $98,530 | 2,210 | 9 | $122,660 | $85,350 |
| Maryland | $104,320 | $107,500 | 250 | 1 | $97,160 | $97,160 |
| Rhode Island | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $95,980 | $95,980 |
| Mississippi | $93,740 | $88,710 | 110 | 1 | $101,870 | $101,870 |
| Hawaii | $92,250 | $84,910 | 170 | 1 | $96,170 | $96,170 |
| New Jersey | $92,150 | $83,030 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $91,970 | $83,780 | 1,840 | 8 | $105,140 | $77,570 |
| Alaska | $91,560 | $90,370 | 650 | 2 | $88,060 | $87,940 |
| Massachusetts | $90,780 | $84,350 | 470 | 2 | $93,320 | $82,690 |
| Louisiana | $89,860 | $87,460 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $86,710 | $83,300 | 730 | 5 | $90,890 | $77,480 |
| Oregon | $85,550 | $85,150 | 1,010 | 6 | $91,700 | $79,200 |
| New York | $85,340 | $82,640 | 370 | 2 | $94,290 | $87,180 |
| Connecticut | $84,390 | $77,300 | 110 | 1 | $78,070 | $78,070 |
| Missouri | $83,160 | $76,400 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Vermont | $82,320 | $79,620 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $82,210 | $79,780 | 250 | 1 | $82,050 | $82,050 |
| Iowa | $80,120 | $83,000 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Dakota | $79,930 | $81,330 | 100 | 1 | $81,770 | $81,770 |
| Michigan | $79,570 | $79,150 | 330 | 2 | $77,580 | $72,830 |
| Nevada | $79,540 | $75,180 | 190 | 2 | $87,730 | $78,740 |
| Montana | $78,740 | $78,850 | 430 | 3 | $85,780 | $77,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,660 | $78,540 | 200 | 1 | $80,060 | $80,060 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 | $73,560 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | $76,780 | $72,340 | 290 | 2 | $78,370 | $77,150 |
| Maine | $76,560 | $74,490 | 330 | 2 | $81,400 | $77,580 |
| Ohio | $75,890 | $74,550 | 220 | 2 | $81,890 | $76,730 |
| Tennessee | $75,360 | $73,570 | 310 | 2 | $77,840 | $69,440 |
| Idaho | $75,200 | $73,360 | 380 | 2 | $79,080 | $74,570 |
| North Carolina | $75,060 | $64,620 | 350 | 2 | $81,240 | $80,990 |
| Wyoming | $74,710 | $74,150 | 320 | 1 | $69,210 | $69,210 |
| Alabama | $74,110 | $74,290 | 290 | 2 | $80,060 | $79,540 |
| Georgia | $73,880 | $66,210 | 200 | 1 | $80,770 | $80,770 |
| Utah | $73,730 | $73,920 | 370 | 3 | $77,100 | $72,070 |
| New Mexico | $73,400 | $68,220 | 170 | 2 | $78,150 | $66,470 |
| Minnesota | $71,910 | $68,620 | 720 | 2 | $71,340 | $66,300 |
| Arizona | $71,270 | $66,880 | 410 | 3 | $74,020 | $71,140 |
| Wisconsin | $70,880 | $68,370 | 360 | 2 | $79,870 | $70,860 |
| South Carolina | $70,430 | $64,090 | 250 | 2 | $81,180 | $63,700 |
| South Dakota | $69,120 | $65,890 | 170 | 1 | $70,090 | $70,090 |
| Kansas | $67,750 | $66,440 | 160 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arkansas | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $65,560 | $65,560 |
| Kentucky | $64,970 | $61,950 | 150 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $64,660 | $62,730 | 120 | 1 | $63,190 | $63,190 |
| Texas | $64,620 | $49,100 | 580 | 3 | $78,030 | $60,480 |
| Florida | $61,260 | $52,750 | 1,400 | 10 | $72,670 | $52,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,040 | $57,110 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $60,530 | $57,890 | 140 | 1 | $59,550 | $59,550 |
| Indiana | $58,170 | $54,670 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
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Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz, CA | $122,660 | $122,170 | $58.97 | 30 |
| Washington, DC | $115,330 | $104,330 | $55.45 | 270 |
| San Jose, CA | $107,240 | $129,940 | $51.56 | 40 |
| Seattle, WA | $105,140 | $96,450 | $50.55 | 720 |
| San Francisco, CA | $105,110 | $99,230 | $50.53 | 300 |
| Gulfport, MS | $101,870 | $113,800 | $48.98 | 30 |
| Baltimore, MD | $97,160 | $99,490 | $46.71 | 100 |
| San Diego, CA | $96,760 | $93,500 | $46.52 | 250 |
| Honolulu, HI | $96,170 | $88,240 | $46.24 | 130 |
| Providence, RI | $95,980 | $97,040 | $46.15 | 80 |
| Bremerton, WA | $95,240 | $85,940 | $45.79 | 60 |
| Kennewick, WA | $94,860 | $82,880 | $45.61 | 50 |
| New York, NY | $94,290 | $86,400 | $45.33 | 160 |
| Worcester, MA | $93,320 | $93,930 | $44.87 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $92,680 | $86,670 | $44.56 | 70 |
| Portland, OR | $91,700 | $89,880 | $44.09 | 350 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $90,890 | $84,240 | $43.70 | 140 |
| Salem, OR | $90,870 | $98,110 | $43.69 | 80 |
| Wenatchee, WA | $90,020 | $84,500 | $43.28 | 80 |
| Sacramento, CA | $89,820 | $84,620 | $43.19 | 190 |
| Boulder, CO | $89,820 | $83,300 | $43.18 | 130 |
| Anchorage, AK | $88,060 | $85,130 | $42.34 | 180 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $88,020 | $83,490 | $42.32 | n/a |
| Fairbanks, AK | $87,940 | $88,740 | $42.28 | 100 |
| Reno, NV | $87,730 | $79,160 | $42.18 | 40 |
| Albany, NY | $87,180 | $78,380 | $41.92 | 80 |
| Denver, CO | $86,220 | $80,540 | $41.45 | 160 |
| Salinas, CA | $86,020 | $84,900 | $41.35 | 50 |
| Bozeman, MT | $85,780 | $83,230 | $41.24 | 50 |
| Corvallis, OR | $85,350 | $85,150 | $41.03 | 80 |
| Riverside, CA | $85,350 | $82,360 | $41.03 | n/a |
| Olympia, WA | $84,670 | $82,500 | $40.71 | 250 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $84,540 | $84,360 | $40.64 | 30 |
| Eugene, OR | $83,830 | $80,990 | $40.30 | 50 |
| Bend, OR | $83,390 | $83,780 | $40.09 | 60 |
| Boston, MA | $82,690 | $75,190 | $39.76 | 160 |
| Yakima, WA | $82,160 | $78,460 | $39.50 | 50 |
| Chicago, IL | $82,050 | $79,780 | $39.45 | 190 |
| Cleveland, OH | $81,890 | $80,980 | $39.37 | 30 |
| Bismarck, ND | $81,770 | $85,330 | $39.31 | 40 |
| Bangor, ME | $81,400 | $79,000 | $39.14 | 50 |
| Raleigh, NC | $81,240 | $65,870 | $39.06 | 50 |
| Columbia, SC | $81,180 | $79,580 | $39.03 | 50 |
| Durham, NC | $80,990 | $80,360 | $38.94 | 50 |
| Atlanta, GA | $80,770 | $66,770 | $38.83 | 60 |
| Helena, MT | $80,160 | $84,230 | $38.54 | 70 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $80,060 | $81,040 | $38.49 | 50 |
| Mobile, AL | $80,060 | $80,110 | $38.49 | 50 |
| La Crosse, WI | $79,870 | $78,850 | $38.40 | 50 |
| Montgomery, AL | $79,540 | $75,210 | $38.24 | 40 |
| Medford, OR | $79,200 | $83,780 | $38.08 | 40 |
| Boise, ID | $79,080 | $77,210 | $38.02 | 150 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $78,740 | $63,370 | $37.86 | 90 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $78,560 | $76,600 | $37.77 | 50 |
| Richmond, VA | $78,370 | $79,220 | $37.68 | 40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $78,150 | $67,930 | $37.57 | 50 |
| Hartford, CT | $78,070 | $77,280 | $37.54 | 50 |
| Austin, TX | $78,030 | $73,280 | $37.51 | 50 |
| Nashville, TN | $77,840 | $79,440 | $37.42 | 70 |
| Detroit, MI | $77,580 | $79,010 | $37.30 | 40 |
| Portland, ME | $77,580 | $77,290 | $37.30 | 90 |
| Spokane, WA | $77,570 | $74,710 | $37.29 | 60 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $77,480 | $72,860 | $37.25 | 40 |
| Missoula, MT | $77,230 | $73,920 | $37.13 | 70 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $77,150 | $72,760 | $37.09 | 130 |
| Ogden, UT | $77,100 | $72,160 | $37.07 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $76,730 | $75,400 | $36.89 | 50 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $74,570 | $73,360 | $35.85 | 40 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $74,060 | $80,260 | $35.61 | 100 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $74,020 | $70,370 | $35.59 | 70 |
| Lansing, MI | $72,830 | $63,520 | $35.02 | 90 |
| Orlando, FL | $72,670 | $68,200 | $34.94 | 50 |
| Panama City, FL | $72,350 | $54,750 | $34.79 | 30 |
| Provo, UT | $72,070 | $70,840 | $34.65 | 40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $71,610 | $67,970 | $34.43 | 180 |
| Duluth, MN | $71,340 | $69,030 | $34.30 | 70 |
| Tucson, AZ | $71,140 | $64,330 | $34.20 | 50 |
| Miami, FL | $70,880 | $53,230 | $34.08 | 240 |
| Madison, WI | $70,860 | $70,410 | $34.07 | 110 |
| Rapid City, SD | $70,090 | $68,100 | $33.70 | 50 |
| Knoxville, TN | $69,440 | $62,670 | $33.38 | 90 |
| Casper, WY | $69,210 | $67,640 | $33.28 | 40 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $66,470 | $67,870 | $31.96 | 40 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $66,300 | $61,050 | $31.88 | 310 |
| Little Rock, AR | $65,560 | $66,790 | $31.52 | 40 |
| Charleston, SC | $63,700 | $58,260 | $30.62 | 130 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $63,190 | $61,210 | $30.38 | 90 |
| Tampa, FL | $61,590 | $55,050 | $29.61 | 300 |
| Gainesville, FL | $61,390 | $55,790 | $29.52 | 110 |
| Houston, TX | $60,860 | $48,130 | $29.26 | 180 |
| Dallas, TX | $60,480 | $49,100 | $29.08 | 240 |
| Lincoln, NE | $59,550 | $54,530 | $28.63 | 30 |
| Naples, FL | $59,230 | $57,240 | $28.47 | n/a |
| Tallahassee, FL | $57,900 | $52,060 | $27.84 | 110 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $55,240 | $49,920 | $26.56 | 40 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $52,860 | $48,110 | $25.41 | 90 |
| Lakeland, FL | $52,760 | $50,000 | $25.37 | 40 |
Related jobs
- Food Scientists and TechnologistsU.S. average $95,360
- Biochemists and BiophysicistsU.S. average $129,840
- Biological Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $106,330
- EpidemiologistsU.S. average $97,890
- Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsU.S. average $116,840
- Life Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $107,860
- MicrobiologistsU.S. average $97,600
- Conservation ScientistsU.S. average $77,130
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Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary: questions
Where do zoologists and wildlife biologists make the most money?
In Santa Cruz, CA, with an average of $122,660 a year, among the 97 metro areas we cover.
What is the average zoologists and wildlife biologists salary in the U.S.?
$83,020 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $76,780, so half of zoologists and wildlife biologists earn more than that and half less.
What salary should zoologists and wildlife biologists ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of zoologists and wildlife biologists nationwide earn between $61,180 (25th percentile) and $96,100 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays zoologists and wildlife biologists the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $117,980 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is zoologists and wildlife biologists pay the lowest?
Lakeland, FL, at $52,760 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1023.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.