Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Salt Lake City-Murray, UT, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $80,260 at the median, or about $38.59 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.87), that's roughly $79,568 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,241/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salt Lake City-Murray’s Regional Price Parity (100.87). 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 Salt Lake City-Murray
Zoologists and wildlife biologists pay in Salt Lake City-Murray tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,241/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.87) 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 Salt Lake City-Murray, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $72K | $72K |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $71K | $72K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $68K | $66K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $81K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $36K 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 Salt Lake City-Murray numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,241/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists in Salt Lake City-Murray?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,990/month. At HUD’s $1,241/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Salt Lake City-Murray compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Salt Lake City-Murray pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median is $80,260 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,840, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $86,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Salt Lake City-Murray?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,093/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,241/month, which eats 24.4% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Salt Lake City-Murray has a Regional Price Parity of 100.87 (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 $79,568 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.