How to Become a Zoologist / Wildlife Biologist
Study animals in the wild and the lab, informing conservation and how species and habitats are managed. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $76,780 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$76,780/yr
Middle half
$61,180 to $96,100
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
1,400
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Field Research
- Species Identification
- Data Collection
- Science
- Technical Writing
Helpful certifications
- TWS Certified Wildlife Biologist (advanced)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
58/100
Work-life balance
51/100
Stress level
45/100
Related careers
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- Astronomer$128,820 median
- Biochemist$127,410 median
- Biostatistician$105,650 median
- Statistician$105,650 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Zoologist / Wildlife Biologist make?
The median pay for a Zoologist / Wildlife Biologist is $76,780 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $61,180 and $96,100 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Zoologist / Wildlife Biologist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Biology, Animal Science, Environmental Science, Zoology, and Wildlife and Fisheries.
Is Zoologist / Wildlife Biologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,400 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Zoologist / Wildlife Biologist use most?
Common skills for this role are Field Research, Species Identification, Data Collection, Science, and Technical Writing.
Planning to become a Zoologist / Wildlife Biologist?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).