Becoming a Wildlife Manager via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School
is a US school (accredited) offering wildlife management courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
wildlife managers,
foresters,
fish and wildlife biologists,
area foresters,
district wildlife managers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 7,530 people employed as
fish and game wardens alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$54,950.
Animal scientists make on average $64,510
per year and there are about 2,190
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Wildlife Manager
- Government Offices
- Private Consulting Firms
- Offices
- In nature
- Wildlife Refuges
- Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Zoos
- Aquariums
- Fisheries
- Natural Parks
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Wildlife Manager
- Protect animals and people
- Work outdoors
- Educate kids about wildlife
- Work with wildlife
- Keep habitats safe from people
- Prevent specie extinction
- Stable job security
- Set work schedules
- Good pay rates
- Easy advancement opportunities
Potential Drawbacks
- Work outdoors in inclement weather
- Deal with sick or injured animals
- Deal with aggressive animals
- Work alone
- Work odd hours
- Confront armed hunters
- Deal with poaching problems
- Work in a remote area
- Deal with agency budget or staff cuts
- Work on a seasonal basis
Related Professions to Consider
- Biological Science Technician
- Wildlife Biologist
- Wildlife Refuge Manager
- Fish & Wildlife Administrator
- Wildlife Biology Project Manager
- Fish and Wildlife Biological Scientist
- Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist
- Project Manager
- Wildlife Ecologist
- Regional Education Advocacy Manager
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Wildlife Manager
- What's been the reaction to the books you have read on biology?
- Burn out is a common problem in this profession what will you do to avoid it?
- Wildlife managers are usally under physical stress how will you cope up?
- What will you do if an animal shows clear evidence of abuse?
- What will you do about squirrel population problem in the campus?
- Where did you go to school?
- What are your motivations?
- Which parts of the world have you visited up till now?
- Why should we select you for this position?
- Do you have any questions for us?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Senior Biologist/Project Manager
- Operations Manager
- General Manager - Ranching Operations
- Consulting Biologist/ Project Manager
- Housekeeping Manager Supervisor
- Wildlife Biology Project Manager
- Wildlife Ecologist
- District Wildlife Manager
- Wildlife Officer
- Fish and Wildlife Technician
Wildlife Manager Training books
Wildlife Manager (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Chemistry General and Organic
- Conservation Law and Policy
- Field Methods for Wildlife Management
- Mammalogy
- Ornithology
- Terrestrial wildlife Ecology
- Wetlands wildlife ecology
- Natural Resources Management and Policy
- Botany and Ecology
- Fishing and Forestry
Wildlife Manager 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: 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: Fish and game wardens
| Total # Employed in the US |
7,530 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.42/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $14.87 |
$17.94 |
$23.46 |
$28.9 |
$42.85 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$54,950 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $30,920 |
$37,310 |
$48,800 |
$60,110 |
$89,130 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.0% |
29.3% |
25.1% |
9.5% |
26.5% |
5.0% |
0.6% |
|
Fish and game wardens — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$32.42/hr
|
$67,430
|
| Colorado |
$31.6/hr
|
$65,730
|
| New York |
$29.63/hr
|
$61,620
|
| Kentucky |
$26.08/hr
|
$54,240
|
| Iowa |
$25.08/hr
|
$52,160
|
| South Carolina |
$24.22/hr
|
$50,380
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.82/hr
|
$49,540
|
| Louisiana |
$23.76/hr
|
$49,420
|
| Wyoming |
$23.53/hr
|
$48,950
|
| Alabama |
$23.06/hr
|
$47,970
|
| Pennsylvania |
$22.2/hr
|
$46,180
|
| Massachusetts |
$21.93/hr
|
$45,620
|
| Oregon |
$21.51/hr
|
$44,740
|
| Missouri |
$21.07/hr
|
$43,820
|
| New Jersey |
$20.39/hr
|
$42,420
|
| Michigan |
$19.55/hr
|
$40,660
|
| Hawaii |
$18.94/hr
|
$39,400
|
| Maryland |
$18.89/hr
|
$39,300
|
| Ohio |
$18.38/hr
|
$38,240
|
| South Dakota |
$18.26/hr
|
$37,980
|
| West Virginia |
$17.7/hr
|
$36,820
|
| Idaho |
$16.39/hr
|
$34,080
|
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
|
