Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $85,940 at the median, or about $41.32 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.61), so that salary is closer to $81,375 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,031/month, about 35.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $86K get you in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard’s Regional Price Parity (105.61). 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 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard sits well above the national pay line for zoologists and wildlife biologists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $77K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,031/month, which is 35.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.61), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists in metros near Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $96K | $87K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $83K | $80K |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $85K | $81K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $75K | $74K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $69K 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 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 35.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,031/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,629/month. At HUD’s $2,031/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $86K here vs. $77K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA?
The median is $85,940 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,480, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $129,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,737/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,031/month, which eats 35.4% 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 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard?
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard has a Regional Price Parity of 105.61 (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 $81,375 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.