Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary
In Texas, zoologists and wildlife biologists earn $49,100 at the median, or about $23.61 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $53,667 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 40% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Texas?
About zoologists and wildlife biologists
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for zoologists and wildlife biologists in Texas runs about 36% below the U.S. median of $77K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 40.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for zoologists and wildlife biologistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level zoologists and wildlife biologists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary by metro in Texas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $73K | +49% | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $49K | +0% | 240 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $48K | -2% | 180 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a zoologists and wildlife biologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 40.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new zoologists and wildlife biologists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,388/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 36% below the national median — $49K here vs. $77K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for zoologists and wildlife biologists?
Texas pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -36%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in Texas?
The median is $49,100 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,800, and experienced zoologists and wildlife biologists can clear $106,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,458/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 40.9% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $53,667 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.