Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $74,710 at the median, or about $35.92 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.35), that's roughly $74,449 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,131/month, or 21.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $75K actually covers in Spokane-Spokane Valley, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Spokane-Spokane Valley’s Regional Price Parity (100.35). 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley
Zoologists and wildlife biologists pay in Spokane-Spokane Valley tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,131/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.35) 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $96K | $87K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $83K | $80K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $90K | $85K |
| Boise City | $77K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $38K 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 annually. We'll email you when Spokane-Spokane Valley numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,131/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,168/month. At HUD’s $1,131/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is zoologists and wildlife biologist a high-paying job in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Spokane-Spokane Valley compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Spokane-Spokane Valley pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.35), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The median is $74,710 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,710, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $98,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,079/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,131/month, which eats 22.3% 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Spokane-Spokane Valley has a Regional Price Parity of 100.35 (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 $74,449 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.