Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $54,750 at the median, or about $26.32 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.3), that's roughly $56,269 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 26.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $55K get you in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Panama City-Panama City Beach’s Regional Price Parity (97.3). 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach
Pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists in Panama City-Panama City Beach runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.3) 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $57K | $55K |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $55K | $55K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $53K | $47K |
| Tallahassee | $52K | $55K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $92K 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,472/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $55K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Panama City-Panama City Beach compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Panama City-Panama City Beach pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL?
The median is $54,750 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,200, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $133,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,836/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 26.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a zoologists and wildlife biologists salary go in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Panama City-Panama City Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 97.3 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median zoologists and wildlife biologists salary is worth about $56,269 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.