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Occupation · SOC 19-1023

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

There are 18,120 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $76,780 a year. The most jobs are in Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA.

ScienceTypical education: Bachelor's degree
18,120
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$76,780
Median pay a year
Middle half: $61,180–$96,100
1,400
Annual openings
10-year change: +3.6%
40
LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 97 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $96,450 · LCA filings 6720$96,4506
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WAMedian pay $89,880 · LCA filings 0350$89,8800
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $61,050 · LCA filings 1310$61,0501
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $99,230 · LCA filings 0300$99,2300
Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FLMedian pay $55,050 · LCA filings 1300$55,0501
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $104,330 · LCA filings 0270$104,3300
Olympia–Lacey–Tumwater, WAMedian pay $82,500 · LCA filings 0250$82,5000
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAMedian pay $93,500 · LCA filings 3250$93,5003
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $49,100 · LCA filings 0240$49,1000
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $53,230 · LCA filings 0240$53,2300

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 40 · LCA filings 1$129,940401
Santa Cruz–Watsonville, CAEmployment 30 · LCA filings 0$122,170300
Gulfport–Biloxi, MSEmployment 30 · LCA filings 0$113,800300
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployment 270 · LCA filings 0$104,3302700
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDEmployment 100 · LCA filings 1$99,4901001

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 72063720
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 16053160
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 25033250
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 31011310
Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FLEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 30011300

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $87,485 · Level III $104,978 · Level IV $122,450$70,013$87,485$104,978$122,450
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WALevel II $78,083 · Level III $91,562 · Level IV $105,040$64,605$78,083$91,562$105,040
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $55,869 · Level III $66,186 · Level IV $76,523$45,531$55,869$66,186$76,523
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $86,861 · Level III $104,915 · Level IV $122,990$68,786$86,861$104,915$122,990
Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FLLevel II $51,210 · Level III $61,485 · Level IV $71,760$40,934$51,210$61,485$71,760
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $95,763 · Level III $115,149 · Level IV $134,514$76,398$95,763$115,149$134,514
Olympia–Lacey–Tumwater, WALevel II $74,485 · Level III $84,573 · Level IV $94,661$64,397$74,485$84,573$94,661
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CALevel II $78,978 · Level III $96,574 · Level IV $114,192$61,360$78,978$96,574$114,192
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $49,691 · Level III $60,382 · Level IV $71,074$39,000$49,691$60,382$71,074
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $56,202 · Level III $70,741 · Level IV $85,280$41,662$56,202$70,741$85,280
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $79,664 · Level III $94,141 · Level IV $108,618$65,187$79,664$94,141$108,618

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Zoology/Animal BiologyCIP 26.07STEM OPT · up to 36 months103STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementCIP 03.06STEM OPT · up to 36 months24STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyCIP 26.13STEM OPT · up to 36 months1,221STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Biology, GeneralCIP 26.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months4,172STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in every metro area

All 97 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology