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Role hub · Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

Zoologist: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

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Updated Oct 24, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
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Median percentile pay

Half of zoologists earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$76,780
Hourly
$36.91
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Zoologists study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. The median pay is $76,780 a year ($36.91 an hour) (BLS, May 2025).

Median pay
$76,780
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
18,120
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 4 of 5
considerable preparation

Data Government data groups this job as Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (O*NET-SOC 19-1023.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

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The work

What zoologists do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
  5. Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
  6. Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.
  7. Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.
  8. Conduct literature reviews.
Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

Complex Problem SolvingcoreJudgment and Decision MakingcoreReading ComprehensioncoreActive ListeningWritingSpeakingScienceCritical ThinkingActive Learning

Knowledge areas: Biology, English Language, Geography, Mathematics, Law and Government, Administration and Management.

Tools and technology

Software zoologists use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareGeographic information systemIn demand
  • SASAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • Computer modeling softwareAnalytical or scientific software
  • ESRI ArcViewGeographic information system
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system
  • Geographic information system GIS systemsGeographic information system
  • Global positioning system GPS softwareMobile location based services software
  • HATPROAnalytical or scientific software
  • Statistical softwareAnalytical or scientific software
  • Microsoft ExcelSpreadsheet softwareIn demand
  • Microsoft Office softwareOffice suite softwareIn demand
  • Microsoft OutlookElectronic mail softwareIn demand

Also called: Wildlife Biologist, Aquatic Biologist, Conservation Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist, Fisheries Biologist, Habitat Biologist.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).