Becoming an Ecologist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Ashford University
is a US school (accredited) offering ecology courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
ecologists,
biologists,
environmental scientists,
scientists,
microbiologists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 29,630 people employed as
biological scientists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$69,430.
Microbiologists make on average $71,980
per year and there are about 16,260
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Ecologist
- Offices
- Laboratories
- geologists
- Remote locations
- National Parks
- Forests
- Remote Islands
- Mountains
- Local and Remote Lakes
- University Laboratories
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Ecologist
- Interact with nature
- Experiment on a variety of subjects
- Work with interesting and exotic plants, animals, and insects
- Manage and coordinate the team
- Interact with like minded people
- Travel around the world
- Map revolutionary micro-evolution in nature
- Fun work out doors
- Enrich with team spirit
- Gain an appreciation for nature
Potential Drawbacks
- Work in bad weather
- Spend countless hours studying data
- A lot of schooling
- Very expensive schooling
- Be surrounded by dangerous animals
- Travel a lot
- Lots of tedious things to collect
- Work with socially awkward people
- It's hard to find a job in this field
- Odd working hours
Related Professions to Consider
- Desert Ecologist
- Project Ecologist
- Senior Level Wetlands Ecologist
- Assistant Biologist/Ecologist
- Botanist/Plant Ecologist
- Ecologist
- Project Manager - Biology
- Environmental Disaster Recovery
- Climatologist/ Ecologist
- Principal Forest Ecologist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Ecologist
- Why should we choose you for this position?
- Why is Ecology important to you?
- What are you strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What is an Ecosystem?
- What are some ways you can improve your weaknesses?
- List ways you have been committed to your job.?
- What is the difference between ecological niche and habitat?
- What are population?
- What are Species?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Freshwater Ecologist
- Environmental Ecologist Sought
- Senior Ecologist
- Toxicologist
- Junior Ecologist
- Mid-Level Ecologist
- Plant Ecologist
- Biologist
- Climate Adaptation Ecologist
- Botanist
Ecologist Training books
Ecologist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Alpine ecology
- Evolutionary ecology
- Evolution of Plants
- Fish Ecology
- Genetics
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Ornithology (The Scientific study of Birds
- Statistics & physics
- AP Biology & Calculus
Ecologist Salary Information
Category: Microbiologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
16,260 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$34.61/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.82 |
$23.92 |
$32.01 |
$42.84 |
$54.4 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$71,980 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $39,150 |
$49,750 |
$66,580 |
$89,110 |
$113,150 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Microbiologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$46.46/hr
|
$96,640
|
| Florida |
$45.56/hr
|
$94,770
|
| Idaho |
$42.81/hr
|
$89,030
|
| Delaware |
$39.04/hr
|
$81,190
|
| Colorado |
$38.21/hr
|
$79,470
|
| Iowa |
$37.33/hr
|
$77,650
|
| North Dakota |
$36.62/hr
|
$76,160
|
| Utah |
$35.85/hr
|
$74,570
|
| Louisiana |
$34.74/hr
|
$72,250
|
| Kansas |
$34.29/hr
|
$71,320
|
| Oklahoma |
$34.02/hr
|
$70,760
|
| Missouri |
$33.93/hr
|
$70,580
|
| New Hampshire |
$33.06/hr
|
$68,760
|
| Michigan |
$32.69/hr
|
$68,000
|
| New Jersey |
$32.49/hr
|
$67,570
|
| New Mexico |
$32.19/hr
|
$66,960
|
| South Carolina |
$31.98/hr
|
$66,520
|
| District of Columbia |
$31.44/hr
|
$65,400
|
| California |
$30.99/hr
|
$64,460
|
| Connecticut |
$30.83/hr
|
$64,120
|
| Nevada |
$30.65/hr
|
$63,750
|
| Nebraska |
$29.62/hr
|
$61,600
|
| Oregon |
$29.58/hr
|
$61,530
|
| Montana |
$29.51/hr
|
$61,390
|
| Indiana |
$28.7/hr
|
$59,700
|
| Alabama |
$27.96/hr
|
$58,150
|
| Alaska |
$27.71/hr
|
$57,630
|
| Wyoming |
$27.69/hr
|
$57,590
|
| Guam |
$27.66/hr
|
$57,540
|
| Hawaii |
$27.42/hr
|
$57,030
|
| Arkansas |
$27.33/hr
|
$56,840
|
| Washington |
$27.28/hr
|
$56,740
|
| Kentucky |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,830
|
| Wisconsin |
$24.3/hr
|
$50,550
|
| Maryland |
$24.15/hr
|
$50,240
|
| Maine |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,850
|
| West Virginia |
$23.45/hr
|
$48,780
|
Category: Zoologists and wildlife biologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
17,460 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$29.17/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.96 |
$21.55 |
$27.16 |
$34.61 |
$44.78 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$60,670 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $35,280 |
$44,830 |
$56,500 |
$71,990 |
$93,140 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Zoologists and wildlife biologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$43.78/hr
|
$91,050
|
| Virginia |
$37.23/hr
|
$77,440
|
| Colorado |
$35.17/hr
|
$73,160
|
| Delaware |
$34.61/hr
|
$71,990
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.24/hr
|
$69,150
|
| Indiana |
$32.86/hr
|
$68,360
|
| Missouri |
$32.04/hr
|
$66,650
|
| Montana |
$31.07/hr
|
$64,620
|
| Oregon |
$30.42/hr
|
$63,270
|
| Tennessee |
$30.33/hr
|
$63,080
|
| Ohio |
$30.27/hr
|
$62,960
|
| North Dakota |
$30.22/hr
|
$62,860
|
| Kansas |
$29.55/hr
|
$61,470
|
| Alaska |
$29.24/hr
|
$60,830
|
| Nevada |
$29.1/hr
|
$60,520
|
| Oklahoma |
$29.07/hr
|
$60,460
|
| Iowa |
$28.6/hr
|
$59,490
|
| Connecticut |
$28.51/hr
|
$59,300
|
| Alabama |
$28.39/hr
|
$59,040
|
| New York |
$28.31/hr
|
$58,890
|
| Utah |
$27.74/hr
|
$57,710
|
| New Jersey |
$27.4/hr
|
$56,990
|
| Washington |
$26.82/hr
|
$55,780
|
| Pennsylvania |
$26.78/hr
|
$55,700
|
| North Carolina |
$26.64/hr
|
$55,400
|
| Louisiana |
$26.53/hr
|
$55,180
|
| Nebraska |
$26.01/hr
|
$54,110
|
| Hawaii |
$25.83/hr
|
$53,720
|
| South Carolina |
$25.34/hr
|
$52,710
|
| New Mexico |
$25.23/hr
|
$52,490
|
| Arkansas |
$25.15/hr
|
$52,310
|
| Guam |
$24.99/hr
|
$51,980
|
| California |
$24.76/hr
|
$51,500
|
| Michigan |
$24.54/hr
|
$51,050
|
| South Dakota |
$24.39/hr
|
$50,730
|
| Idaho |
$24.21/hr
|
$50,350
|
| West Virginia |
$24.16/hr
|
$50,260
|
| New Hampshire |
$24.12/hr
|
$50,180
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.59/hr
|
$49,060
|
| Wyoming |
$21.98/hr
|
$45,710
|
Category: Biological scientists, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
29,630 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$33.38/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.67 |
$24.24 |
$31.98 |
$39.26 |
$48.36 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$69,430 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $36,750 |
$50,420 |
$66,510 |
$81,650 |
$100,580 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Biological scientists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$50.17/hr
|
$104,350
|
| Mississippi |
$43.75/hr
|
$91,000
|
| North Dakota |
$38.11/hr
|
$79,270
|
| Kansas |
$36.71/hr
|
$76,350
|
| Oregon |
$35.51/hr
|
$73,850
|
| Louisiana |
$35.1/hr
|
$73,010
|
| New Mexico |
$34.89/hr
|
$72,580
|
| Delaware |
$34.8/hr
|
$72,380
|
| South Dakota |
$34.39/hr
|
$71,530
|
| Colorado |
$34.39/hr
|
$71,520
|
| Indiana |
$34.37/hr
|
$71,490
|
| Idaho |
$34.17/hr
|
$71,070
|
| Alaska |
$34.08/hr
|
$70,880
|
| North Carolina |
$33.81/hr
|
$70,330
|
| Wisconsin |
$33.61/hr
|
$69,910
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.6/hr
|
$69,890
|
| Oklahoma |
$33.47/hr
|
$69,620
|
| Puerto Rico |
$32.92/hr
|
$68,470
|
| Connecticut |
$32.73/hr
|
$68,080
|
| Utah |
$32.22/hr
|
$67,020
|
| Washington |
$31.58/hr
|
$65,690
|
| South Carolina |
$31.52/hr
|
$65,560
|
| Alabama |
$31.02/hr
|
$64,510
|
| Wyoming |
$30.69/hr
|
$63,830
|
| New York |
$30.53/hr
|
$63,500
|
| Montana |
$30.51/hr
|
$63,450
|
| New Hampshire |
$30.4/hr
|
$63,230
|
| Maine |
$30.25/hr
|
$62,920
|
| Nebraska |
$30.22/hr
|
$62,860
|
| Tennessee |
$30/hr
|
$62,390
|
| Guam |
$29.47/hr
|
$61,290
|
| California |
$28.89/hr
|
$60,080
|
| Ohio |
$28.85/hr
|
$60,000
|
| Iowa |
$28.67/hr
|
$59,630
|
| Arkansas |
$28.31/hr
|
$58,880
|
| Kentucky |
$27.5/hr
|
$57,200
|
| Maryland |
$27.41/hr
|
$57,020
|
| Missouri |
$27.27/hr
|
$56,710
|
| New Jersey |
$26.98/hr
|
$56,120
|
| Hawaii |
$26.23/hr
|
$54,560
|
| District of Columbia |
$25.28/hr
|
$52,580
|
Category: Conservation scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
16,810 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$29.41/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.1 |
$22.18 |
$28.92 |
$35.26 |
$42.25 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$61,180 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $35,570 |
$46,140 |
$60,160 |
$73,340 |
$87,890 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.8% |
1.1% |
7.2% |
6.5% |
62.8% |
18.2% |
3.5% |
|
Conservation scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alaska |
$40.76/hr
|
$84,790
|
| Hawaii |
$35.7/hr
|
$74,260
|
| Florida |
$35.61/hr
|
$74,070
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.79/hr
|
$70,290
|
| North Carolina |
$33.47/hr
|
$69,620
|
| Delaware |
$33.47/hr
|
$69,610
|
| Colorado |
$33.24/hr
|
$69,140
|
| Mississippi |
$33.24/hr
|
$69,130
|
| Maine |
$32.8/hr
|
$68,230
|
| Kansas |
$32.64/hr
|
$67,890
|
| California |
$32.43/hr
|
$67,450
|
| Washington |
$32.43/hr
|
$67,450
|
| Indiana |
$32.42/hr
|
$67,440
|
| Wisconsin |
$32.04/hr
|
$66,630
|
| Tennessee |
$31.67/hr
|
$65,870
|
| Maryland |
$31.26/hr
|
$65,030
|
| South Dakota |
$30.92/hr
|
$64,320
|
| North Dakota |
$30.46/hr
|
$63,350
|
| New Mexico |
$30.44/hr
|
$63,310
|
| Pennsylvania |
$30.44/hr
|
$63,320
|
| Nebraska |
$30.35/hr
|
$63,120
|
| Alabama |
$30.15/hr
|
$62,720
|
| Ohio |
$30.04/hr
|
$62,490
|
| Connecticut |
$29.69/hr
|
$61,760
|
| Idaho |
$29.51/hr
|
$61,370
|
| Montana |
$29.4/hr
|
$61,150
|
| Iowa |
$29.26/hr
|
$60,850
|
| South Carolina |
$29.02/hr
|
$60,370
|
| Arkansas |
$28.82/hr
|
$59,940
|
| Kentucky |
$28.77/hr
|
$59,850
|
| Wyoming |
$28.56/hr
|
$59,400
|
| New Jersey |
$27.88/hr
|
$57,980
|
| Missouri |
$27.68/hr
|
$57,570
|
| Puerto Rico |
$27.49/hr
|
$57,170
|
| New York |
$27.08/hr
|
$56,330
|
| Guam |
$27.07/hr
|
$56,300
|
| Michigan |
$26.73/hr
|
$55,600
|
| Oklahoma |
$26.72/hr
|
$55,570
|
| West Virginia |
$26.17/hr
|
$54,440
|
| Oregon |
$26.17/hr
|
$54,430
|
| Nevada |
$25.57/hr
|
$53,180
|
| New Hampshire |
$25.48/hr
|
$53,010
|
| Louisiana |
$24.73/hr
|
$51,440
|
| Utah |
$21.2/hr
|
$44,090
|
Category: Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
| Total # Employed in the US |
83,530 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$32.38/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.85 |
$22.12 |
$29.33 |
$39.18 |
$51.53 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$67,360 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $37,120 |
$46,000 |
$61,010 |
$81,500 |
$107,190 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
0.8% |
3.4% |
3.3% |
47.6% |
34.9% |
9.7% |
|
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$50.42/hr
|
$104,880
|
| Missouri |
$41.77/hr
|
$86,880
|
| Colorado |
$35.84/hr
|
$74,550
|
| Kansas |
$35.48/hr
|
$73,800
|
| Connecticut |
$35.46/hr
|
$73,760
|
| Wyoming |
$35.33/hr
|
$73,490
|
| Mississippi |
$35.29/hr
|
$73,410
|
| Oklahoma |
$34.3/hr
|
$71,350
|
| New York |
$33.97/hr
|
$70,650
|
| North Dakota |
$33.77/hr
|
$70,230
|
| Montana |
$33.26/hr
|
$69,180
|
| Alaska |
$32.72/hr
|
$68,060
|
| Delaware |
$32.71/hr
|
$68,030
|
| Utah |
$32.33/hr
|
$67,260
|
| Indiana |
$32/hr
|
$66,550
|
| Louisiana |
$31.65/hr
|
$65,830
|
| South Carolina |
$31.25/hr
|
$64,990
|
| Iowa |
$30.98/hr
|
$64,450
|
| Tennessee |
$30.8/hr
|
$64,060
|
| Pennsylvania |
$30.61/hr
|
$63,670
|
| Puerto Rico |
$29.75/hr
|
$61,890
|
| Guam |
$29.26/hr
|
$60,870
|
| Virginia |
$29.09/hr
|
$60,510
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.88/hr
|
$60,070
|
| North Carolina |
$28.2/hr
|
$58,650
|
| Ohio |
$27.93/hr
|
$58,100
|
| Nebraska |
$27.86/hr
|
$57,950
|
| Oregon |
$27.75/hr
|
$57,730
|
| Wisconsin |
$27.63/hr
|
$57,470
|
| Idaho |
$27.34/hr
|
$56,870
|
| Alabama |
$27.2/hr
|
$56,580
|
| Maine |
$27.11/hr
|
$56,380
|
| Hawaii |
$27/hr
|
$56,160
|
| New Jersey |
$26.85/hr
|
$55,840
|
| Massachusetts |
$26.81/hr
|
$55,750
|
| Arkansas |
$26.64/hr
|
$55,400
|
| Kentucky |
$26.25/hr
|
$54,600
|
| West Virginia |
$25.9/hr
|
$53,880
|
| Maryland |
$25.82/hr
|
$53,710
|
| Michigan |
$25.72/hr
|
$53,510
|
| Washington |
$25.37/hr
|
$52,760
|
| New Mexico |
$25.21/hr
|
$52,440
|
| New Hampshire |
$24.45/hr
|
$50,860
|
| California |
$24.33/hr
|
$50,600
|
| South Dakota |
$24.22/hr
|
$50,370
|
| Nevada |
$23.96/hr
|
$49,850
|
