Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $80,540 at the median, or about $38.72 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers.
So what does $81K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About zoologists and wildlife biologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $84K | , |
| Boulder | $83K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $73K | , |
| Grand Junction | $84K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $67K 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
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,463/month.
Is zoologists and wildlife biologist a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +5%.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $80,540 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,710, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $124,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,125/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a zoologists and wildlife biologists salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median zoologists and wildlife biologists salary is worth about $80,540 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.