Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Bozeman, MT, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $83,230 at the median, or about $40.02 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.51), that's roughly $81,192 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,154/month, about 40.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $83K get you in Bozeman?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bozeman’s Regional Price Parity (102.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About zoologists and wildlife biologists
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What this looks like in Bozeman
Zoologists and wildlife biologists pay in Bozeman tracks closely to the national median, $83K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,154/month, which is 40.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists in metros near Bozeman, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Helena | $84K | $88K |
| Missoula | $74K | $77K |
| Boise City | $77K | $78K |
| Rapid City | $68K | $76K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bozeman, MT
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $108K | +40% | 250 |
| District of Columbia | $107K | +39% | 140 |
| California | $99K | +28% | 2,210 |
| Alaska | $90K | +18% | 650 |
| Mississippi | $89K | +16% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $87K | +14% | 50 |
| Oregon | $85K | +11% | 1,010 |
| Hawaii | $85K | +11% | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $84K | +10% | 470 |
| Washington | $84K | +9% | 1,840 |
| Colorado | $83K | +8% | 730 |
| New Jersey | $83K | +8% | 90 |
| Iowa | $83K | +8% | 90 |
| New York | $83K | +8% | 370 |
| North Dakota | $81K | +6% | 100 |
| Illinois | $80K | +4% | 250 |
| Vermont | $80K | +4% | 70 |
| Michigan | $79K | +3% | 330 |
| Montana | $79K | +3% | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $79K | +2% | 200 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +1% | 110 |
| Missouri | $76K | -0% | 120 |
| Nevada | $75K | -2% | 190 |
| Ohio | $75K | -3% | 220 |
| Maine | $74K | -3% | 330 |
| Alabama | $74K | -3% | 290 |
| Wyoming | $74K | -3% | 320 |
| Utah | $74K | -4% | 370 |
| Tennessee | $74K | -4% | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $74K | -4% | 40 |
| Idaho | $73K | -4% | 380 |
| Virginia | $72K | -6% | 290 |
| Minnesota | $69K | -11% | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $68K | -11% | 360 |
| New Mexico | $68K | -11% | 170 |
| Arizona | $67K | -13% | 410 |
| Kansas | $66K | -13% | 160 |
| Georgia | $66K | -14% | 200 |
| South Dakota | $66K | -14% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $65K | -16% | 350 |
| South Carolina | $64K | -17% | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $63K | -18% | 120 |
| Kentucky | $62K | -19% | 150 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -25% | 140 |
| Indiana | $55K | -29% | 120 |
| Florida | $53K | -31% | 1,400 |
| Texas | $49K | -36% | 580 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track zoologists and wildlife biologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bozeman numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bozeman?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 40.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,154/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists in Bozeman?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,773/month. At HUD’s $2,154/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is zoologists and wildlife biologist a high-paying job in Bozeman?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $83K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Bozeman compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Bozeman pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Bozeman, MT?
The median is $83,230 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,880, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $122,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Bozeman?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,261/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,154/month, which eats 40.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a zoologists and wildlife biologists salary go in Bozeman?
Bozeman has a Regional Price Parity of 102.51 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median zoologists and wildlife biologists salary is worth about $81,192 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do zoologists and wildlife biologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.