Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists is $76,780, or $36.91 per hour. About 18,120 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $107,500 in Maryland to $49,100 in Texas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 47 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $107,500 | $51.68 | 250 | 0.79 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $107,050 | $51.46 | 140 | 1.74 |
| 3 | California | $98,530 | $47.37 | 2,210 | 1.04 |
| 4 | Alaska | $90,370 | $43.45 | 650 | 17.18 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $88,710 | $42.65 | 110 | 0.84 |
| 6 | Louisiana | $87,460 | $42.05 | 50 | 0.21 |
| 7 | Oregon | $85,150 | $40.94 | 1,010 | 4.41 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $84,910 | $40.82 | 170 | 2.28 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $84,350 | $40.55 | 470 | 1.12 |
| 10 | Washington | $83,780 | $40.28 | 1,840 | 4.44 |
| 11 | Colorado | $83,300 | $40.05 | 730 | 2.18 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $83,030 | $39.92 | 90 | 0.19 |
| 13 | Iowa | $83,000 | $39.91 | 90 | 0.52 |
| 14 | New York | $82,640 | $39.73 | 370 | 0.33 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $81,330 | $39.10 | 100 | 2.09 |
| 16 | Illinois | $79,780 | $38.36 | 250 | 0.35 |
| 17 | Vermont | $79,620 | $38.28 | 70 | 2.00 |
| 18 | Michigan | $79,150 | $38.05 | 330 | 0.65 |
| 19 | Montana | $78,850 | $37.91 | 430 | 7.24 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $78,540 | $37.76 | 200 | 0.28 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $77,300 | $37.16 | 110 | 0.53 |
| 22 | Missouri | $76,400 | $36.73 | 120 | 0.35 |
| 23 | Nevada | $75,180 | $36.14 | 190 | 1.04 |
| 24 | Ohio | $74,550 | $35.84 | 220 | 0.34 |
| 25 | Maine | $74,490 | $35.81 | 330 | 4.48 |
| 26 | Alabama | $74,290 | $35.71 | 290 | 1.17 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $74,150 | $35.65 | 320 | 9.90 |
| 28 | Utah | $73,920 | $35.54 | 370 | 1.82 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $73,570 | $35.37 | 310 | 0.81 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $73,560 | $35.37 | 40 | 0.52 |
| 31 | Idaho | $73,360 | $35.27 | 380 | 3.83 |
| 32 | Virginia | $72,340 | $34.78 | 290 | 0.61 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $68,620 | $32.99 | 720 | 2.10 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $68,370 | $32.87 | 360 | 1.04 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $68,220 | $32.80 | 170 | 1.63 |
| 36 | Arizona | $66,880 | $32.15 | 410 | 1.07 |
| 37 | Kansas | $66,440 | $31.94 | 160 | 0.95 |
| 38 | Georgia | $66,210 | $31.83 | 200 | 0.35 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $65,890 | $31.68 | 170 | 3.24 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $64,620 | $31.07 | 350 | 0.60 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $64,090 | $30.81 | 250 | 0.91 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $62,730 | $30.16 | 120 | 0.62 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $61,950 | $29.79 | 150 | 0.64 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $57,890 | $27.83 | 140 | 1.19 |
| 45 | Indiana | $54,670 | $26.28 | 120 | 0.33 |
| 46 | Florida | $52,750 | $25.36 | 1,400 | 1.21 |
| 47 | Texas | $49,100 | $23.61 | 580 | 0.35 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make?
The median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists in the United States is $76,780, or $36.91 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $49,100, and the top 10% earn $126,440.
How many zoologists and wildlife biologists are employed in the U.S.?
About 18,120 people work as zoologists and wildlife biologists nationwide.
Which state pays zoologists and wildlife biologists the most?
Maryland pays the most at a median of $107,500, followed by District of Columbia ($107,050) and California ($98,530).
Which state pays zoologists and wildlife biologists the least?
Texas has the lowest median at $49,100.
Where are zoologists and wildlife biologists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Alaska at 17.18×.