Table of Contents Show

If you’re an inquisitive person with a knack for solving problems and would love your office to be outdoors, then a career in zoology would be a good fit for you.

However, in considering a career in zoology, you might have questioned, “How much do zoologists make?”. Knowing how much zoologists make could go a long way toward helping you decide whether to venture into that career.

Also known as wildlife biologists, zoologists study wild animals’ origins, behaviors, diseases, and general life alongside their interaction with their environments.

There are several options to choose from in a zoology career. You could decide to practice exclusively on a particular group of animals (for instance, mammals or birds). Or you could decide to work in a zoo, delving into the animal planet.

So in this article, you’ll learn more about what being a zoologist entails, how much zoologists make, and what factors affect how much a zoologist makes.

You Can Read: Geneticist Salary in the US | How Much Do A Geneticist Make in 2023?

What is Zoology?
What is a Zoologist?
What do Zoologists do?
Where do Zoologists Work?
How Much do Zoologists Make?
Highest Paying Cities for Zoologists Jobs
Average Zoologist’s Salary by State
What is the Projected Outlook for a Zoology Career?
How to Become a Zoologist
Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions on How Much Does A Zoologist Make

What is Zoology?

Zoology, otherwise known as wildlife biology, is a science that studies animals and their behaviors.

A wildlife biologist studies the interactions of these animals with their environment and other living beings.

Zoology concentrates on preserving endangered wildlife from the menace and conserving wildlife environments. Therefore, wildlife biologists generally bolster and upsurge the wildlife populace.

Check this also: Gastroenterologist Salary in the US | How Much Do A Gastroenterologist Make in 2023

What is a Zoologist?

A zoologist is a scientist that studies animals and wildlife alongside their behaviors and interaction with their environments. Most often, they study how the activities of human development affect animal behaviors and their habitats.

A zoologist can study a certain animal or group of animals exclusively. This allows them to understand changes in animal behavior better. They also keep track of animals’ life progress, what they feed on, their reactions to environmental changes, and places they go.

Aside from these, wildlife biologists also write reports, publish articles and academic papers, speak with the public or journalists, and make presentations at conferences.

What do Zoologists do?

As scientists and researchers that study animals, zoologists often work in the lab. Hence, they must converse with computers, lab equipment, and research techniques, whereas others do fieldwork and office work.

Fieldwork entails spending time with the animals while observing how they interact with their environment and studying and gathering information about their reproduction statistics and migration patterns.

Furthermore, to study animal genetics, diseases, and parasites, wildlife biologists must keep track of the animals’ nutrition and health and collect their blood samples.

Check this out: Pharmacist Salary in Georgia | How Much Do Pharmacists Make in Georgia?

Where do Zoologists Work?

Zoologists can work in captivity or the wild. They work where there’s a wildlife population. But most often, Zoologists spend time in the field with animals carrying out research.

For instance, zoologists specializing in marine life will mostly spend time working on research ships or in labs close to the ocean.

The period spent gathering data in the field is determined by the topic of study. Many Zoologists concentrate on lab work instead of fieldwork.

The rest focus on working with environmental consulting firms, the government, wildlife conservation, policymakers, conservation groups, universities, and colleges to protect vulnerable species.

You can read this also: Anesthesiologist Assistant Salary in US | How Much Do An Anesthesiologist Assistant Make in 2023?

How Much do Zoologists Make?

A lot of factors influence how much a zoologist makes. And some of these factors include their area of specialization, educational level, where they work, and their working experience.

While zoologists with doctoral or master’s degrees can work as head researchers in universities or in supervisory roles, they typically focus on a certain group of animals. Hence, they make more money and are accessible to funding like grants.

Therefore, the higher your level of experience, the higher your salary. And as you are being promoted, you qualify for supervisory positions. Some majors in zoology make more money than the rest.

Another thing that influences how much a zoologist makes is where they work—certain universities or companies pay better than the rest. For instance, zoologists who work for a nonprofit organization will earn less than those who work for a for-profit research organization. In essence, how much zoologists make can be influenced by the location where they work.

Talking about how much zoologists make an hour and how much zoologists make a year, as of March 9, 2022, zoologists in the U.S. make $24.92 an hour and $51.826 a year. And according to ZipRecruiter, the hourly wages are as low as $8.41 and as high as $58.65.

This means that most zoologists’ wages are between $14.18 (the 25th percentile) and $29.33 (the 75th percentile) across the U.S. And the average salary for zoologists differs by $15.14, which suggests that there could be chances for improvement and a higher salary depending on experience, skill level, and location.

Check this: Dental Lab Technician Salary in the US | How Much Do A Dental Lab Technician Make in 2023?

Highest Paying Cities for Zoologists Jobs

Cities	Annual salary	Hourly wage
Sunnyvale, CA	$64,314	$30.92
Santa Rosa, CA	$62,204	$29.91
Williston, ND	$61,200	$29.42
Manhattan, NY	$61,039	$29.35
Cambridge, MA	$60,284	$28.98
Arlington, VA	$59,944	$28.82
Dickinson, ND	$59,577	$28.64
Ketchikan, AK	$59,355	$28.54
Vacaville, CA	$59,125	$28.43
New York City, NY	$58,658	$28.20

Average Zoologist’s Salary by State

State	Annual salary	Hourly wage
Massachusetts	$54,832	$26.36
Hawaii	$54,049	$25.99
Connecticut	$53,501	$25.72
Wisconsin	$52,670	$25.32
Tennessee	$52,329	$25.16
Washington	$52,142	$25.07
Minnesota	$52,127	$25.06
Rhode Island	$52,013	$25.01
Ohio	$51,946	$24.97
New York	$51,703	$24.86
Alaska	$51,170	$24.60
North Dakota	$51,150	$24.59
Utah	$50,875	$24.46
Nevada	$50,767	$24.41
Louisiana	$50,552	$24.30
New Mexico	$50,101	$24.09
New Hampshire	$49,910	$23.99
Maryland	$49,770	$23.93
South Dakota	$49,656	$23.87

Iowa	$49,234	$23.67
Oregon	$49,016	$23.57
Nebraska	$48,902	$23.51
Kansas	$48,469	$23.30
Virginia	$48,261	$23.20
California	$47,183	$22.68
Vermont	$46,943	$22.57
South Carolina	$46,909	$22.55
Colorado	$46,840	$22.52
Delaware	$46,537	$22.37
Wyoming	$46,355	$22.29
Oklahoma	$45,451	$21.85
Mississippi	$45,426	$21.84
Kentucky	$45,015	$21.64
West Virginia	$44,942	$21.61
New Jersey	$44,594	$21.44
Idaho	$44,204	$21.25
Pennsylvania	$44,181	$21.24
Montana	$44,108	$21.21
Arkansas	$44,074	$21.19

Maine	$43,957	$21.13
Michigan	$43,934	$21.12
Illinois	$43,835	$21.07
Arizona	$43,654	$20.99
Indiana	$43,374	$20.85
Missouri	$42,899	$20.62
Texas	$42,696	$20.53
Georgia	$42,113	$20.25
Alabama	$41,128	$19.77
North Carolina	$39,973	$19.22
Florida	$39,692	$19.08

What is the Projected Outlook for a Zoology Career?

Well, there are a lot of prospects for a zoology career. However, a career in zoology might get very competitive as time goes by. Meanwhile, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Biological Sciences field will experience rapid growth.

But majors such as marine biology, zoology, and botany will be limited because these fields are small, and many people are interested in them. Employment will be more favorable to Ph.D. applicants.

How to Become a Zoologist

Now that you know how much zoologists make a year and how much zoologists make an hour, let’s look at the steps to follow to become a zoologist.

Get a Bachelor’s Degree.

A bachelor’s degree in zoology, biology, or a related field is required to become a zoologist. You will be taught how to work with animals and report your discoveries. Meanwhile, there are various majors in zoology that you can choose from. Some include marine biology, animal behavior or ecology, zoo and Aquarium science, and genetics.

Engage in Volunteer Work or Internships

Having practical experience while earning your degree is a plus for you. You can do this by volunteering or through an internship. Ensure that the internship is in your preferred field—wildlife refuge, animal shelter, zoo, or veterinary office. But volunteer opportunities are often available if you can’t find an internship.

Work in the Field

After earning a bachelor’s degree, you can always get an entry-level job where you could work as a research assistant, a zookeeper, or in conservation. You may also consider working in the field (zoology) before getting into graduate school, such that you will be familiar with animals.

Stay up to Date

Stay abreast of environmental changes, the latest research methods, where you can report your discoveries, and government regulations. You could also consider joining a professional body, signing up for professional journals, and attending workshops and conferences.

Get a Graduate Degree.

To work at a higher level, you should get a master’s or doctoral degree. In these programs, you will learn research techniques, advanced chemistry, biology, and how to report your findings. At the end of your master’s degree program, you’ll be required to take a comprehensive exam or thesis before graduating.

Conclusion

Working as a zoologist can be a very interesting career, especially for animal lovers (who can now spend more time with them). However, knowing how much zoologists make can help determine whether to venture into the career.

Zoologists make good money, but the amount they earn varies depending on the place they work, their level of experience, their skill level, and the location where they work. All in all, a career in zoology is fantastic.

Frequently Asked Questions on How Much Does A Zoologist Make

What are the highest-paying jobs in zoology?

The highest-paying jobs in zoology include Biology teachers, Marine Mammal Trainers, Microbiologists, Ichthyologists, Veterinarians, Herpetologists, Ecologists, and Zoologists.

How much does a Zoologist make in Canada?

Zoologists in Canada earn between $23.50 per hour and $57.69 per hour. This also applies to Biologists and other related scientists.

How many years does it take to be a Zoologist?

A bachelor’s degree in zoology or wildlife conservation takes four years. Whereas a master’s degree takes extra two years and probably an extra 30 hours of practical, field-specific work.

Is being a zoologist worth it?

The sweetest thing about being a zoologist is you get paid to study animals. While this may not make sense to everyone, animal lovers will find it interesting because they will spend ample time with the things they love.

Do zoologists work alone?

Zoologists may work alone with animals. However, they also work with colleagues and the public.

What jobs can you get with a degree in zoology?

Here are the jobs you can get with a degree in zoology:

Biomedical scientist
Environmental education officer
Environmental consultant.
Toxicologist
Animal nutritionist
Research scientist
Science writer
Veterinary nurse

What’s bad about being a zoologist?

Zoologists often work in dangerous conditions. Some of them are at risk of contracting diseases. For example, those researching animal diseases and genetics could contract an illness if they don’t work safely. Again, they face emotional dangers when they lose an animal since they always spend time with them.

What are the highest paying jobs in zoology?

The highest-paying jobs in zoology include Biology teachers, Marine Mammal Trainers, Microbiologists, Ichthyologists, Veterinarians, Herpetologists, Ecologists, and Zoologists.

How much does a Zoologist make in Canada?

Zoologists in Canada earn between $23.50 per hour and $57.69 per hour. This also applies to Biologists and other related scientists.

How many years does it take to be a Zoologist?

A bachelor’s degree in zoology or wildlife conservation takes four years. Whereas a master’s degree takes extra two years and probably an extra 30 hours of practical, field-specific work.