Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist Salary
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn a median $76,780 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$76,780
$36.91 per hour
Range
$49,100 – $126,440
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
18,120
across the U.S.
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$62,845
per year · effective tax rate 18.1%
$5,237Monthly
$2,619Twice a month
$2,417Every 2 weeks
$30.21Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,062
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,760
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,113
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$62,845
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,100 | $23.61 | $41,632 |
| 25th percentile | $61,180 | $29.41 | $51,338 |
| Median (50th) | $76,780 | $36.91 | $62,845 |
| 75th percentile | $96,100 | $46.20 | $76,436 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,440 | $60.79 | $97,688 |
Best cities for zoologists and wildlife biologists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $96,450 | $76,683 | $69,001 | 720 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Seattle, WA — $96,450
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $107,500 | $79,711 | $63,060 – $156,750 | 250 |
| District of Columbia | $107,050 | $78,009 | $85,190 – $161,470 | 140 |
| California | $98,530 | $71,931 | $58,380 – $177,760 | 2,210 |
| Alaska | $90,370 | $72,405 | $59,280 – $126,920 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $88,710 | $68,421 | $52,610 – $141,130 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $87,460 | $68,121 | $65,400 – $119,430 | 50 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | $62,112 | $54,640 – $113,350 | 1,010 |
| Hawaii | $84,910 | $63,641 | $65,650 – $125,630 | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $84,350 | $64,173 | $45,310 – $138,940 | 470 |
| Washington | $83,780 | $67,769 | $62,070 – $129,850 | 1,840 |
| Colorado | $83,300 | $64,475 | $60,590 – $116,390 | 730 |
| New Jersey | $83,030 | $64,143 | $59,420 – $128,790 | 90 |
| Iowa | $83,000 | $64,718 | $59,850 – $90,420 | 90 |
| New York | $82,640 | $63,102 | $58,240 – $117,860 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 | $65,719 | $55,700 – $103,500 | 100 |
| Illinois | $79,780 | $61,151 | $55,690 – $112,900 | 250 |
| Vermont | $79,620 | $62,048 | $65,690 – $98,340 | 70 |
| Michigan | $79,150 | $61,399 | $58,720 – $104,250 | 330 |
| Montana | $78,850 | $61,207 | $62,540 – $96,100 | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,540 | $61,672 | $48,060 – $113,920 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $77,300 | $60,534 | $50,440 – $118,110 | 110 |
| Missouri | $76,400 | $59,924 | $57,620 – $108,080 | 120 |
| Nevada | $75,180 | $61,719 | $49,600 – $119,090 | 190 |
| Ohio | $74,550 | $60,008 | $45,700 – $108,930 | 220 |
| Maine | $74,490 | $57,387 | $51,690 – $97,680 | 330 |
| Alabama | $74,290 | $57,644 | $47,120 – $99,600 | 290 |
| Wyoming | $74,150 | $60,995 | $56,420 – $90,920 | 320 |
| Utah | $73,920 | $58,472 | $51,060 – $96,100 | 370 |
| Tennessee | $73,570 | $60,586 | $50,840 – $99,330 | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $73,560 | $60,579 | $48,660 – $108,850 | 40 |
| Idaho | $73,360 | $57,659 | $49,840 – $96,100 | 380 |
| Virginia | $72,340 | $56,376 | $49,960 – $104,920 | 290 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 | $53,961 | $45,630 – $101,210 | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $68,370 | $54,685 | $42,950 – $91,170 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 | $54,782 | $51,080 – $96,100 | 170 |
| Arizona | $66,880 | $54,417 | $48,400 – $96,100 | 410 |
| Kansas | $66,440 | $52,657 | $54,850 – $77,290 | 160 |
| Georgia | $66,210 | $52,566 | $54,970 – $115,150 | 200 |
| South Dakota | $65,890 | $55,123 | $53,410 – $87,640 | 170 |
| North Carolina | $64,620 | $52,033 | $48,370 – $122,120 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $64,090 | $50,988 | $46,740 – $111,830 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $62,730 | $50,306 | $48,650 – $88,610 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $61,950 | $49,906 | $46,960 – $83,040 | 150 |
| Nebraska | $57,890 | $46,940 | $45,350 – $83,350 | 140 |
| Indiana | $54,670 | $44,524 | $44,180 – $76,900 | 120 |
| Florida | $52,750 | $44,565 | $39,900 – $97,660 | 1,400 |
| Texas | $49,100 | $41,632 | $39,800 – $106,020 | 580 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a zoologist and wildlife biologist make?
The national median salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists is $76,780 a year ($36.91 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,100 and the top 10% earn over $126,440. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays zoologists and wildlife biologists the most?
Maryland has the highest median pay at $107,500. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many zoologists and wildlife biologists are there in the U.S.?
About 18,120 people work as zoologists and wildlife biologists nationwide.