Job title · SOC 19-1023

Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist

Also known as: wildlife biologist, fisheries biologist

Overview

Sourced

Study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.

O*NET definition of Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (SOC 19-1023) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

12,400

in government (SOC 19-1023)

68%

of this occupation works for government

$78,500

median pay in government

Federal · State

levels of government

Titles employers use

Conservation BiologistFish and Wildlife BiologistFisheries BiologistWildlife BiologistAquatic BiologistFisheries and Wildlife Biological ScientistHabitat BiologistMigratory Game Bird BiologistWildlife Refuge SpecialistZoologist

How people usually get in Editorial

biology degree. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 19-1023)

Education needed to enter: Bachelor's degree
Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: None

Education workers say the job requires

Bachelor's Degree

72%

Master's Degree

28%

Share of surveyed workers in Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (SOC 19-1023) naming each level as required to be hired, 29 respondents, O*NET survey August 2026. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

How to get hired

Sourced

Zoologists and wildlife biologists typically need a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions and may need a master's degree for higher level jobs. They typically need a Ph.D. to lead research projects.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 19-1023: None

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Considerable Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Federal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

GS-5/7 entry (Pathways / recent grad)
Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
GS-14/15 (competitive)
Senior Executive Service
within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
special rates: LEO (LEAP 25%), FAA ATC AT-bands, TSA SV bands, VA Nurse I–V

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$93,810

State

$70,610

Local

$79,880

All government

$78,500

Private sector

$71,630

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	3,540	$67,720	$78,850	$93,810	$115,920	$144,680
State	7,760	$50,000	$59,390	$70,610	$85,150	$100,110
Local	1,100	$53,150	$63,610	$79,880	$111,000	$131,440
All government	12,400	$52,730	$63,680	$78,500	$95,870	$116,690
Private sector	5,720	$45,630	$53,460	$71,630	$97,790	$167,250

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist in 20 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

State	Job classes in the state plan	Annual range
Florida	Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist IV 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), State Human Resource Management	$50,263 – $179,636
Georgia	Fisheries Biologist 1–3, Fisheries Biologist 1 Non Exempt, Wildlife Biologist 1–3, +5 more 12 classes · effective July 10, 2024 · Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation	$41,570 – $81,720
Hawaii	Wildlife Biologist II–VI 5 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD)	$56,700 – $114,912
Idaho	Biologist Fisheries 1 class · effective June 8, 2025 · Idaho Division of Human Resources	$56,410 – $112,840
Iowa	Natural Resources Biologist 1 class · effective June 19, 2026 · Iowa Department of Administrative Services	$56,992 – $86,362
Kentucky	Fisheries Biologist I–IV, Wildlife Biologist I–IV 8 classes · effective September 16, 2026 · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet	$36,426 – $56,884
Massachusetts	Game Biologist I–IV 6 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD)	$63,891 – $124,145
Michigan	Fisheries Biologist-E, Wildlife Biologist-E, Fisheries Biologist-A, Wildlife Biologist-A 4 classes · effective October 1, 2025 · Michigan Civil Service Commission	$52,062 – $95,389
New Jersey	Assistant Biologist Fisheries, Senior Biologist Fisheries, Principal Biologist Fisheries 3 classes · effective July 11, 2026 · New Jersey Civil Service Commission	$60,876 – $117,228
New Mexico	Associate Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Biologist, Senior Wildlife Biologist 3 classes · effective July 4, 2026 · New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification	$47,050 – $85,396
Ohio	Fisheries Biologist 1–2, Wildlife Biologist 1–2 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation	$55,203 – $79,061
Oklahoma	Wildlife Biologist I–V 5 classes · effective August 30, 2026 · Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), Human Capital Management	$27,320 – $178,547
Pennsylvania	Fisheries Biologist 1, PFBC, Wildlife Biologist 1–3, Fisheries Biologist 2, PFBC, +2 more 7 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration	$53,008 – $127,834
South Carolina	Wildlife Biologist I–IV 4 classes · South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources	$40,086 – $105,978
South Dakota	Wildlife Biologist, Senior Wildlife Biologist 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes	$59,363 – $99,382
Utah	Wildlife Biologist I–III 3 classes · effective June 21, 2025 · Utah Department of Government Operations, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM)	$44,990 – $82,722
Washington	Fish & Wildlife Biologist 1–4 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources	$47,004 – $95,676
West Virginia	Wildlife Biologist 1–3 3 classes · effective August 24, 2024 · West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel	$48,098 – $97,037
Wisconsin	Fisheries Biologist, Wildlife Biologist, Fisheries Biologist-Adv, +3 more 6 classes · effective June 28, 2026 · Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management	$45,136 – $135,054
Wyoming	Wildlife Biologist I–II, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Principal Wildlife Biologist 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division	$55,016 – $114,962

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 20 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

21%

Irregular

72%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

52%

More than 40 hours

48%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2026). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.4.4
Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs.4.4
Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.4.4
Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.4.3
Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.4.2
Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.3.9
Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.3.8
Conduct literature reviews.3.7
Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.3.7
Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.3.6

The 10 most important of 12 core tasks for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2026.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (SOC 19-1023) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
Maryland	250	$63,060	$107,500	$156,750
District of Columbia	140	$85,190	$107,050	$161,470
California	2,210	$58,380	$98,530	$177,760
Alaska	650	$59,280	$90,370	$126,920
Mississippi	110	$52,610	$88,710	$141,130
Louisiana	50	$65,400	$87,460	$119,430
Oregon	1,010	$54,640	$85,150	$113,350
Hawaii	170	$65,650	$84,910	$125,630
Massachusetts	470	$45,310	$84,350	$138,940
Washington	1,840	$62,070	$83,780	$129,850
Colorado	730	$60,590	$83,300	$116,390
New Jersey	90	$59,420	$83,030	$128,790
Iowa	90	$59,850	$83,000	$90,420
New York	370	$58,240	$82,640	$117,860
North Dakota	100	$55,700	$81,330	$103,500
Illinois	250	$55,690	$79,780	$112,900
Vermont	70	$65,690	$79,620	$98,340
Michigan	330	$58,720	$79,150	$104,250
Montana	430	$62,540	$78,850	$96,100
Pennsylvania	200	$48,060	$78,540	$113,920
Connecticut	110	$50,440	$77,300	$118,110
Missouri	120	$57,620	$76,400	$108,080
Nevada	190	$49,600	$75,180	$119,090
Ohio	220	$45,700	$74,550	$108,930
Maine	330	$51,690	$74,490	$97,680
Alabama	290	$47,120	$74,290	$99,600
Wyoming	320	$56,420	$74,150	$90,920
Utah	370	$51,060	$73,920	$96,100
Tennessee	310	$50,840	$73,570	$99,330
New Hampshire	40	$48,660	$73,560	$108,850
Idaho	380	$49,840	$73,360	$96,100
Virginia	290	$49,960	$72,340	$104,920
Minnesota	720	$45,630	$68,620	$101,210
Wisconsin	360	$42,950	$68,370	$91,170
New Mexico	170	$51,080	$68,220	$96,100
Arizona	410	$48,400	$66,880	$96,100
Kansas	160	$54,850	$66,440	$77,290
Georgia	200	$54,970	$66,210	$115,150
South Dakota	170	$53,410	$65,890	$87,640
North Carolina	350	$48,370	$64,620	$122,120
South Carolina	250	$46,740	$64,090	$111,830
Oklahoma	120	$48,650	$62,730	$88,610
Kentucky	150	$46,960	$61,950	$83,040
Nebraska	140	$45,350	$57,890	$83,350
Indiana	120	$44,180	$54,670	$76,900
Florida	1,400	$39,900	$52,750	$97,660
Texas	580	$39,800	$49,100	$106,020

47 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
Not yet collected
14 Exam practice
Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
Not yet collected

At a glance

Job familyPlanning, Engineering & Environment

LevelFederal, State

Pay structureFederal grade and step

Occupation code19-1023 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

PreparationConsiderable Preparation Needed

Sources and verification

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), State Human Resource Management — Florida State Personnel System — Broadband Crosswalk (September 2026), Pay Grades and Broadband Pay Ranges (July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Florida state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation — Georgia State Salary Plans (SWD and LAW) with Job Profiles — September 2026

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Georgia state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) — Hawaii Compensation Plans and Bargaining Unit Salary Schedules

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (State of Hawaiʻi government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Idaho Division of Human Resources — Idaho State Classifications and FY 2026–2027 Salary Structures

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Idaho state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Iowa Department of Administrative Services — Iowa FY 2027 Classification Plan and Pay Plans

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Iowa state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Kentucky Personnel Cabinet — Kentucky Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule (effective September 16, 2026) and Job Class Specifications

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Kentucky state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) — Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Commonwealth of Massachusetts government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Michigan Civil Service Commission — Michigan Civil Service Commission Compensation Plan, Sections A (Alphabetic List of Pay Ranges) and B (Numeric List of Pay Ranges)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (State of Michigan government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New Jersey Civil Service Commission — New Jersey State Title List and FY2027 salary schedules by Employee Relations Group

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (State of New Jersey government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification — New Mexico Classified Service — FY27 Salary Schedule (effective 7/4/2026) and Classification and Pay Listing (effective 7/30/2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (New Mexico state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA) — O*NET 31.0 Database

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · CC BY 4.0

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. GovJobsWiki has modified some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public domain (U.S. government work)

Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation — Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Ohio state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), Human Capital Management — Oklahoma Pay Structures for State Employees (effective 08/30/2026) and OMES Job Catalog

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Oklahoma state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration — Pennsylvania Commonwealth Classification and Pay Plan (job classes and pay schedules)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources — South Carolina Classified Pay Structure and State Job Classifications

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (South Carolina state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes — South Dakota Class Code Master and FY27 Pay Structures

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (South Dakota state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division — State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure — 2024 Market Rates (effective July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Wyoming state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Utah Department of Government Operations, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) — Utah DHRM Public Job Descriptions: job salary ranges

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Utah state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources — Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026)

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Washington state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel — West Virginia Division of Personnel — Schedule of Salary Grades 2-26 (effective August 24, 2024) and Class Specifications

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public information (West Virginia state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management — Wisconsin Alphabetical Listing of Classifications and 2025-2027 Compensation Plan Pay Schedules

Official source · data captured September 30, 2026 · Public record (Wisconsin state government publication); facts republished with a link to the source

GovJobsWiki — GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240)

GovJobsWiki editorial · not a sourced fact · GovJobsWiki editorial

Page data last changed September 30, 2026. How we verify · Report an error

Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

How to get hired

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

State government pay plans

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

By state

Not yet collected