The average salary for a zoologist in the United States is around $49,190 per year.
Avg Salary
Zoologists earn an average yearly salary of $49,190.
Wages typically start from $31,939 and go up to $75,760.
21% below national average Updated in 2023
Zoologist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$36.42 per hour
$75,760 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$29.68 per hour
$61,744 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$23.65 per hour
$49,190 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$18.84 per hour
$39,189 per year
10th percentile
Starting level zoologist earnings begin at:
$15.36 per hour
$31,939 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Zoologist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $82,090 |
| New Jersey | $81,690 |
| Alaska | $81,630 |
| Hawaii | $78,000 |
| Washington | $77,260 |
| Oregon | $75,660 |
| Texas | $75,420 |
| North Dakota | $73,900 |
| California | $73,820 |
| Michigan | $73,260 |
| Vermont | $71,120 |
| Tennessee | $69,450 |
| Colorado | $69,400 |
| Louisiana | $68,950 |
| Minnesota | $68,200 |
| New Hampshire | $67,390 |
| Missouri | $66,790 |
| Mississippi | $66,790 |
| Nevada | $66,370 |
| Maryland | $66,120 |
| New York | $66,040 |
| Virginia | $64,840 |
| Connecticut | $64,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,940 |
| Wyoming | $63,940 |
| Idaho | $63,750 |
| Montana | $63,750 |
| Ohio | $63,750 |
| Iowa | $63,100 |
| Rhode Island | $62,280 |
| Arizona | $62,000 |
| Illinois | $61,780 |
| North Carolina | $61,490 |
| Arkansas | $60,550 |
| Maine | $60,360 |
| Georgia | $58,870 |
| Wisconsin | $58,760 |
| Oklahoma | $56,820 |
| Utah | $56,720 |
| South Dakota | $56,060 |
| New Mexico | $55,590 |
| Alabama | $55,320 |
| Kansas | $54,910 |
| Nebraska | $53,230 |
| Kentucky | $51,700 |
| South Carolina | $50,130 |
| Indiana | $50,100 |
| Florida | $46,480 |
| West Virginia | $38,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,350 |
| District of Columbia | $111,180 |
How do zoologist salaries compare to similar careers?
Zoologists earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than scientists but more than behavioral scientists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Scientist salary | $67K |
| Microbiologist salary | $63K |
| Molecular biologist salary | $61K |
| Veterinarian salary | $61K |
| Animal scientist salary | $58K |
| Zoologist salary | $49K |
| Chemical technician salary | $44K |
| Exterminator salary | $43K |
| Biotechnician salary | $39K |
| Behavioral scientist salary | $35K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)