Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Colorado Springs, CO, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $72,860 at the median, or about $35.03 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.71), that's roughly $72,346 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,474/month, about 30.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $73K actually covers in Colorado Springs, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Colorado Springs’s Regional Price Parity (100.71). 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 Colorado Springs
Zoologists and wildlife biologists pay in Colorado Springs tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,474/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists in metros near Colorado Springs, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $81K | $76K |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $84K | $83K |
| Boulder | $83K | $79K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $68K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado Springs, CO
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $49K 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 annually. We'll email you when Colorado Springs numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado Springs?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,474/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Colorado Springs?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,754/month. At HUD’s $1,474/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Colorado Springs?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Colorado Springs compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Colorado Springs pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Colorado Springs, CO?
The median is $72,860 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,620, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $105,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Colorado Springs?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,703/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,474/month, which eats 31.3% 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 Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs has a Regional Price Parity of 100.71 (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 $72,346 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.