Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Corvallis, OR, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $85,150 at the median, or about $40.94 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.02), that's roughly $81,859 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,622/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $85K get you in Corvallis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Corvallis’s Regional Price Parity (104.02). 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 Corvallis
Corvallis sits well above the national pay line for zoologists and wildlife biologists, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,622/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.02) 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 Corvallis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $90K | $85K |
| Salem | $98K | $95K |
| Bend | $84K | $81K |
| Eugene-Springfield | $81K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Corvallis, OR
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $58K 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 Corvallis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Corvallis?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 31.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,622/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Corvallis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,342/month. At HUD’s $1,622/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Corvallis?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $85K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Corvallis compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Corvallis pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.02), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Corvallis, OR?
The median is $85,150 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,700, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $113,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Corvallis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,114/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,622/month, which eats 31.7% 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 Corvallis?
Corvallis has a Regional Price Parity of 104.02 (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 $81,859 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.