Becoming a Wildlife Biologist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
University of Maryland University College, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering biology courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
biologists,
marine biologists,
wildlife biologists,
molecular biologists,
fish and wildlife biologists,
fisheries biologists,
molecular biology professors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 17,460 people employed as
zoologists and wildlife biologists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$60,670.
Animal scientists make on average $64,510
per year and there are about 2,190
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like University of Maryland University College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Wildlife Biologist
- Offices
- Research facilities
- Technology facilities
- Forest
- Wildlife preserves
- Zoo's and Aquarium's
- Animal Research Facilities
- Natural Parks
- Federal Governments
- Health care facilities
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Wildlife Biologist
- pretty easy and very interesting
- develop strong communication and public speaking skills
- become part-time teachers or professors
- find opportunities for work through numerous organizations
- Be outside a lot
- Working for the good of the public
- Planning for the organization
- Training and development opportunities
- Variety of health insurance plans
- Flexible work schedule
Potential Drawbacks
- Not getting paid a lot of money at the beginning
- Remain healthy
- Also make sure you exercise which is negative if you hate exercising
- Not have work for a few weeks which will also reduce your finances dramatically
- Do something that you love as your career
- A lot of time away from home
- Long hours shooting processing and editing your work
- spending days in uncomfortable working conditions like battling the elements while you try to get the perfect shots
- limited creativity when doing portraits headshots and simple fashion shoots
- there is quite a lot of stress involved
Related Professions to Consider
- Fish and Wildlife Biologist
- Wildlife Biologist
- Interdisciplinary
- Natural Resources Specialist
- NWTF Regional Wildlife Biologist
- Sr. Wildlife Biologist
- Wildlife Field Biologist
- Research Wildlife Biologist
- Associate Wildlife Biologist
- Fishery Biologist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Wildlife Biologist
- What will you do about squirrel population problem in the campus?
- Which is the longest snake which you have caught?
- Who is your role model?
- What are your educational qualifications?
- Which parts of the world have you visited up till now?
- Tell us something about yourself?
- How did you get the idea to write your "Landscaping for Wildlife" book?
- How did your second book get going?
- What's been the reaction to the books you have read on biology?
- Describe the things you do as a biologist?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Marine biologists
- Limnologists
- Biochemists
- Geneticists
- Botanists
- Microbiologists
- Physiologists
- Biophysicists
- Zoologists
- Ecologists
Wildlife Biologist Training books
Wildlife Biologist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- biological and biomedical sciences
- construction trades
- education
- engineering
- engineering technologies
- English language and literature
- family and consumer sciences
- physical sciences
- psychology
- social sciences
Wildlife Biologist Salary Information
Category: Animal scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
2,190 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.02/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.25 |
$19.68 |
$27.38 |
$39.68 |
$51.77 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,510 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $31,730 |
$40,930 |
$56,960 |
$82,540 |
$107,680 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
4.2% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
41.4% |
23.4% |
14.2% |
|
Animal scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$50.84/hr
|
$105,750
|
| North Dakota |
$38.64/hr
|
$80,370
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.86/hr
|
$68,350
|
| Louisiana |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,170
|
| Maine |
$32.55/hr
|
$67,700
|
| Maryland |
$31.25/hr
|
$65,010
|
| Michigan |
$30.43/hr
|
$63,300
|
| South Dakota |
$30.25/hr
|
$62,930
|
| Hawaii |
$27.81/hr
|
$57,850
|
| Wyoming |
$27.67/hr
|
$57,540
|
| Nebraska |
$26.79/hr
|
$55,720
|
| South Carolina |
$24.75/hr
|
$51,490
|
| Nevada |
$22.75/hr
|
$47,310
|
| West Virginia |
$17.83/hr
|
$37,080
|
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: Foresters
| Total # Employed in the US |
10,230 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.55/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.94 |
$20.82 |
$25.89 |
$31.63 |
$36.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$55,220 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $35,250 |
$43,310 |
$53,840 |
$65,800 |
$75,310 |
|
| 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% |
|
Foresters — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$32.32/hr
|
$67,220
|
| North Dakota |
$31.98/hr
|
$66,510
|
| Alaska |
$30.81/hr
|
$64,080
|
| Delaware |
$29.84/hr
|
$62,060
|
| Kansas |
$29.64/hr
|
$61,650
|
| Ohio |
$29.52/hr
|
$61,410
|
| Missouri |
$29.07/hr
|
$60,460
|
| Iowa |
$29/hr
|
$60,320
|
| Tennessee |
$28.74/hr
|
$59,790
|
| Oregon |
$28.1/hr
|
$58,460
|
| Alabama |
$27.8/hr
|
$57,810
|
| Massachusetts |
$27.77/hr
|
$57,760
|
| Wyoming |
$27.66/hr
|
$57,520
|
| Guam |
$27.39/hr
|
$56,970
|
| Nebraska |
$27.38/hr
|
$56,950
|
| Montana |
$27.28/hr
|
$56,740
|
| Connecticut |
$27.26/hr
|
$56,710
|
| California |
$26.72/hr
|
$55,580
|
| North Carolina |
$26.45/hr
|
$55,020
|
| Oklahoma |
$25.97/hr
|
$54,020
|
| Puerto Rico |
$25.62/hr
|
$53,290
|
| South Carolina |
$25.55/hr
|
$53,140
|
| South Dakota |
$25.55/hr
|
$53,140
|
| Utah |
$25.46/hr
|
$52,960
|
| New Jersey |
$25.33/hr
|
$52,690
|
| Idaho |
$24.87/hr
|
$51,730
|
| Washington |
$24.82/hr
|
$51,630
|
| New Hampshire |
$24.73/hr
|
$51,440
|
| Pennsylvania |
$24.54/hr
|
$51,040
|
| Michigan |
$24.09/hr
|
$50,110
|
| New Mexico |
$23.95/hr
|
$49,810
|
| Louisiana |
$22.81/hr
|
$47,430
|
| Arkansas |
$22.7/hr
|
$47,220
|
| West Virginia |
$22.5/hr
|
$46,800
|
| Hawaii |
$22.45/hr
|
$46,690
|
| Kentucky |
$21.96/hr
|
$45,670
|
| Wisconsin |
$21.19/hr
|
$44,080
|
| Maryland |
$20.91/hr
|
$43,490
|
| Nevada |
$20.86/hr
|
$43,390
|
Category: Forest and conservation technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
31,440 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$17.49/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.78 |
$13.22 |
$15.8 |
$20.92 |
$25.52 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$36,370 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,490 |
$27,510 |
$32,860 |
$43,510 |
$53,080 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.6% |
17.5% |
23.9% |
12.6% |
29.7% |
9.4% |
4.2% |
|
Forest and conservation technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Delaware |
$32.11/hr
|
$66,800
|
| Missouri |
$21.61/hr
|
$44,950
|
| Oklahoma |
$20.9/hr
|
$43,480
|
| Alaska |
$20.33/hr
|
$42,280
|
| Idaho |
$20.21/hr
|
$42,040
|
| Maine |
$20.17/hr
|
$41,960
|
| Hawaii |
$19.68/hr
|
$40,930
|
| Louisiana |
$19.55/hr
|
$40,650
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.5/hr
|
$40,560
|
| Montana |
$19.49/hr
|
$40,540
|
| California |
$19.42/hr
|
$40,390
|
| Alabama |
$19.27/hr
|
$40,070
|
| Michigan |
$19.23/hr
|
$40,010
|
| South Dakota |
$19/hr
|
$39,510
|
| Nevada |
$18.88/hr
|
$39,280
|
| Pennsylvania |
$18.53/hr
|
$38,540
|
| Puerto Rico |
$18.39/hr
|
$38,260
|
| Colorado |
$18.28/hr
|
$38,020
|
| Indiana |
$18.22/hr
|
$37,890
|
| Utah |
$18.17/hr
|
$37,790
|
| Oregon |
$18.13/hr
|
$37,710
|
| Nebraska |
$17.98/hr
|
$37,390
|
| Mississippi |
$17.98/hr
|
$37,400
|
| New Hampshire |
$17.66/hr
|
$36,720
|
| Kansas |
$17.65/hr
|
$36,710
|
| Tennessee |
$17.58/hr
|
$36,560
|
| Wyoming |
$17.49/hr
|
$36,380
|
| Washington |
$17.37/hr
|
$36,130
|
| South Carolina |
$17.14/hr
|
$35,660
|
| Connecticut |
$16.93/hr
|
$35,210
|
| North Carolina |
$16.82/hr
|
$34,980
|
| New York |
$16.8/hr
|
$34,950
|
| Iowa |
$16.61/hr
|
$34,560
|
| Arkansas |
$16.53/hr
|
$34,370
|
| Ohio |
$16.43/hr
|
$34,180
|
| Kentucky |
$16.07/hr
|
$33,420
|
| New Jersey |
$16.02/hr
|
$33,320
|
| Wisconsin |
$15.78/hr
|
$32,810
|
| West Virginia |
$15.64/hr
|
$32,530
|
| New Mexico |
$15.53/hr
|
$32,300
|
Category: Nonfarm animal caretakers
| Total # Employed in the US |
132,860 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$10.5/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.49 |
$8.22 |
$9.4 |
$11.63 |
$15.22 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$21,830 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15,590 |
$17,110 |
$19,550 |
$24,190 |
$31,660 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 10.2% |
38.2% |
26.6% |
8.7% |
13.8% |
1.6% |
1.0% |
|
Nonfarm animal caretakers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Indiana |
$15.02/hr
|
$31,240
|
| Alaska |
$13.07/hr
|
$27,190
|
| Florida |
$12.46/hr
|
$25,920
|
| Missouri |
$11.8/hr
|
$24,550
|
| District of Columbia |
$11.79/hr
|
$24,530
|
| Connecticut |
$11.68/hr
|
$24,290
|
| Mississippi |
$11.61/hr
|
$24,150
|
| Delaware |
$11.48/hr
|
$23,880
|
| Colorado |
$11.43/hr
|
$23,780
|
| Virginia |
$11.28/hr
|
$23,450
|
| North Dakota |
$11.11/hr
|
$23,120
|
| Ohio |
$10.82/hr
|
$22,510
|
| Hawaii |
$10.79/hr
|
$22,440
|
| Oklahoma |
$10.7/hr
|
$22,250
|
| Kansas |
$10.59/hr
|
$22,030
|
| Nebraska |
$10.49/hr
|
$21,810
|
| Michigan |
$10.48/hr
|
$21,790
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.47/hr
|
$21,780
|
| Tennessee |
$10.39/hr
|
$21,610
|
| Idaho |
$10.38/hr
|
$21,590
|
| Montana |
$10.35/hr
|
$21,530
|
| Utah |
$10.34/hr
|
$21,510
|
| Puerto Rico |
$10.3/hr
|
$21,430
|
| New Hampshire |
$10.2/hr
|
$21,210
|
| North Carolina |
$10.19/hr
|
$21,200
|
| Arkansas |
$10.16/hr
|
$21,140
|
| Wisconsin |
$10.09/hr
|
$20,980
|
| Oregon |
$10/hr
|
$20,790
|
| South Carolina |
$10/hr
|
$20,800
|
| New York |
$9.98/hr
|
$20,760
|
| New Mexico |
$9.85/hr
|
$20,500
|
| Guam |
$9.84/hr
|
$20,460
|
| Louisiana |
$9.79/hr
|
$20,360
|
| New Jersey |
$9.79/hr
|
$20,370
|
| Maryland |
$9.75/hr
|
$20,290
|
| Wyoming |
$9.72/hr
|
$20,220
|
| Washington |
$9.64/hr
|
$20,040
|
| Maine |
$9.63/hr
|
$20,020
|
| Kentucky |
$9.49/hr
|
$19,730
|
| South Dakota |
$9.48/hr
|
$19,720
|
| Iowa |
$9.46/hr
|
$19,670
|
| West Virginia |
$9.4/hr
|
$19,560
|
| Alabama |
$9.3/hr
|
$19,350
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.28/hr
|
$19,310
|
| Nevada |
$9.12/hr
|
$18,960
|
| California |
$8.83/hr
|
$18,360
|
