Zoologist | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Zoologist 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 2,190 people employed as animal scientists alone in America, and their average annual salary is $64,510. Zoologists and wildlife biologists make on average $60,670 per year and there are about 17,460 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 Zoologist
  • Wildlife and Forest Departments
  • Zoology Colleges and Universities
  • National and Natural parks
  • Veterinary clinics
  • Marine Technology Departments
  • Research and Development Departments
  • Animal Survey Departments
  • Zoos and Aquariums
  • Environmental Consultants
  • Fisheries
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Zoologist
  • You're your own boss most of the time
  • Work alone
  • Freedom to do your own research on the side
  • Work with animals
  • Frequently travel to new locations
  • High variety in what you work with
  • Work outside or inside
  • Help save a certain species
  • Rewarding job
  • Have co-workers who like there job
Potential Drawbacks
  • Spend time doing research or laboratory work
  • Dissect and examine animal specimens
  • Exposed to bodily fluids and diseases
  • Exposed to toxic chemicals
  • Keep laboratory animals and raise their offspring under controlled conditions
  • Test the effects of drugs on your animals
  • Understand special laboratory equipment and scientific methods
  • Work alone frequently
  • May be expected to live in dangerous rural areas
  • May be away from family and friends for extended periods of time
Related Professions to Consider
  • Embryologist
  • Physiologist
  • Biochemist
  • Doctor
  • Marine Biologist
  • Oceanographer
  • Pharmacologist
  • Veterinary Surgeon
  • Ornithologist
  • Wildlife Biologist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Zoologist
  • What did you study in school?
  • What was your thesis about?
  • How flexible are you in terms of time and schedule?
  • What were your favorite classes in school?
  • Have you been published?
  • What trade magazines are your currently reading?
  • How do your reply to a telephone interview invitation?
  • Long term goals for being a scientist?
  • Short term goals for being a zoologist?
  • What was your favorite experience with animals in school?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Wildlife Biologist
  • Statician
  • Zoologist
  • Zookeepers
  • Veterinarian
  • Veterinarian Assistant
  • Ecologist
  • Botanist
  • Marine Biologist
  • Biologist
Zoologist Training books Zoologist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Animal behavior
  • Animal physiology
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Herpetology
  • Invertebrate biology
  • Mammalogy
  • Ornithology
  • Vertebrate zoology

Zoologist 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
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage 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
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage 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: Animal trainers

Total # Employed in the US 10,080
Average Hourly Wage: $14.94/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.13 $9.48 $12.95 $18.05 $25.06
Average Yearly Salary $31,080
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16,920 $19,710 $26,930 $37,540 $52,130
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
10.1% 32.3% 23.1% 9.6% 20.8% 3.3% 0.7%
Animal trainers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
District of Columbia $18.03/hr $37,500
Nebraska $17.61/hr $36,630
Delaware $17.25/hr $35,890
Maryland $16.55/hr $34,410
Hawaii $16.48/hr $34,280
Wisconsin $16.47/hr $34,250
Oklahoma $16.34/hr $33,980
Colorado $16.28/hr $33,850
Wyoming $16.2/hr $33,700
North Carolina $15.97/hr $33,220
North Dakota $15.05/hr $31,300
Louisiana $15/hr $31,190
Missouri $14.83/hr $30,850
Iowa $14.7/hr $30,570
Idaho $14.66/hr $30,500
Kansas $14.49/hr $30,140
New Hampshire $14.2/hr $29,530
South Carolina $13.91/hr $28,930
Guam $13.91/hr $28,930
Massachusetts $13.69/hr $28,470
Washington $13.58/hr $28,240
Mississippi $13.5/hr $28,070
Montana $13.47/hr $28,010
Connecticut $13.11/hr $27,280
Maine $12.97/hr $26,970
Utah $12.88/hr $26,800
Oregon $12.8/hr $26,620
Arkansas $12.18/hr $25,330
Indiana $12.12/hr $25,200
Alabama $11.89/hr $24,730
New York $11.7/hr $24,340
South Dakota $11.36/hr $23,620
California $11.32/hr $23,540
Kentucky $11/hr $22,870
New Mexico $10.45/hr $21,740
Tennessee $10.33/hr $21,500


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