The average salary for a zoologist in the United States is around $76,780 per year.
Avg Salary
Zoologists earn an average yearly salary of $76,780.
Wages typically start from $49,100 and go up to $126,440.
21% above national average Updated in 2025
Zoologist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$60.79 per hour
$126,440 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$46.20 per hour
$96,100 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$36.91 per hour
$76,780 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$29.41 per hour
$61,180 per year
10th percentile
Starting level zoologist earnings begin at:
$23.61 per hour
$49,100 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Zoologist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $98,530 |
| Alaska | $90,370 |
| Mississippi | $88,710 |
| Louisiana | $87,460 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Hawaii | $84,910 |
| Massachusetts | $84,350 |
| Washington | $83,780 |
| Colorado | $83,300 |
| New Jersey | $83,030 |
| Iowa | $83,000 |
| New York | $82,640 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 |
| Illinois | $79,780 |
| Vermont | $79,620 |
| Michigan | $79,150 |
| Montana | $78,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,540 |
| Connecticut | $77,300 |
| Missouri | $76,400 |
| Nevada | $75,180 |
| Ohio | $74,550 |
| Maine | $74,490 |
| Alabama | $74,290 |
| Wyoming | $74,150 |
| Utah | $73,920 |
| Tennessee | $73,570 |
| New Hampshire | $73,560 |
| Idaho | $73,360 |
| Virginia | $72,340 |
| Minnesota | $68,620 |
| Wisconsin | $68,370 |
| New Mexico | $68,220 |
| Arizona | $66,880 |
| Kansas | $66,440 |
| Georgia | $66,210 |
| South Dakota | $65,890 |
| North Carolina | $64,620 |
| South Carolina | $64,090 |
| Oklahoma | $62,730 |
| Rhode Island | $62,280 |
| Kentucky | $61,950 |
| Arkansas | $60,550 |
| Nebraska | $57,890 |
| Indiana | $54,670 |
| Florida | $52,750 |
| Texas | $49,100 |
| West Virginia | $38,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,350 |
| Maryland | $107,500 |
| District of Columbia | $107,050 |
How do zoologist salaries compare to similar careers?
Zoologists earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than microbiologists but more than fish and game wardens.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Microbiologist salary | $88K |
| Food science technologist salary | $89K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $82K |
| Animal scientist salary | $69K |
| Soil and plant scientist salary | $79K |
| Zoologist salary | $77K |
| Geodesist salary | $75K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $72K |
| Soil and water conservationist salary | $73K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $74K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)