The average salary for a zoologist in South Dakota is around $65,890 per year.
Avg Salary
Zoologists earn an average yearly salary of $65,890.
Wages typically start from $53,410 and go up to $87,640.
9% above national average Updated in 2025
Zoologist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$42.14 per hour
$87,640 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$37.90 per hour
$78,830 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$31.68 per hour
$65,890 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$27.39 per hour
$56,970 per year
10th percentile
Starting level zoologist earnings begin at:
$25.68 per hour
$53,410 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 South Dakota. On average, they make less than geneticists but more than chemical technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Geneticist salary | $74K |
| Molecular biologist salary | $74K |
| Bioinformatics scientist salary | $74K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $68K |
| Geologist salary | $71K |
| Zoologist salary | $66K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $69K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $52K |
| Exterminator salary | $50K |
| Chemical technician salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)