Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Eugene-Springfield, OR, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $80,990 at the median, or about $38.94 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.57), that's roughly $79,738 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,688/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $81K get you in Eugene-Springfield?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Eugene-Springfield’s Regional Price Parity (101.57). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Eugene-Springfield
Zoologists and wildlife biologists pay in Eugene-Springfield tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,688/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.57) 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 Eugene-Springfield, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $90K | $85K |
| Corvallis | $85K | $82K |
| Salem | $98K | $95K |
| Bend | $84K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Eugene-Springfield, OR
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $46K 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 Eugene-Springfield numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Eugene-Springfield?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,688/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 Eugene-Springfield?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,661/month. At HUD’s $1,688/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Eugene-Springfield?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Eugene-Springfield compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Eugene-Springfield pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Eugene-Springfield, OR?
The median is $80,990 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,020, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $107,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Eugene-Springfield?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,900/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,688/month, which eats 34.4% 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 Eugene-Springfield?
Eugene-Springfield has a Regional Price Parity of 101.57 (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 $79,738 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.