The average salary for a zoologist in California is around $73,820 per year.
Avg Salary
Zoologists earn an average yearly salary of $73,820.
Wages typically start from $44,160 and go up to $124,420.
1% above national average Updated in 2021
Zoologist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$59.82 per hour
$124,420 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$45.94 per hour
$95,560 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$35.49 per hour
$73,820 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level zoologist earnings begin at:
$26.42 per hour
$54,950 per year
10th percentile
Starting level zoologist earnings begin at:
$21.23 per hour
$44,160 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Zoologist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $82,090 |
| New Jersey | $81,690 |
| Alaska | $81,630 |
| Hawaii | $78,000 |
| Washington | $77,260 |
| Oregon | $75,660 |
| Texas | $75,420 |
| North Dakota | $73,900 |
| California | $73,820 |
| Michigan | $73,260 |
| Vermont | $71,120 |
| Tennessee | $69,450 |
| Colorado | $69,400 |
| Louisiana | $68,950 |
| Minnesota | $68,200 |
| New Hampshire | $67,390 |
| Missouri | $66,790 |
| Mississippi | $66,790 |
| Nevada | $66,370 |
| Maryland | $66,120 |
| New York | $66,040 |
| Virginia | $64,840 |
| Connecticut | $64,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,940 |
| Wyoming | $63,940 |
| Idaho | $63,750 |
| Montana | $63,750 |
| Ohio | $63,750 |
| Iowa | $63,100 |
| Rhode Island | $62,280 |
| Arizona | $62,000 |
| Illinois | $61,780 |
| North Carolina | $61,490 |
| Arkansas | $60,550 |
| Maine | $60,360 |
| Georgia | $58,870 |
| Wisconsin | $58,760 |
| Oklahoma | $56,820 |
| Utah | $56,720 |
| South Dakota | $56,060 |
| New Mexico | $55,590 |
| Alabama | $55,320 |
| Kansas | $54,910 |
| Nebraska | $53,230 |
| Kentucky | $51,700 |
| South Carolina | $50,130 |
| Indiana | $50,100 |
| Florida | $46,480 |
| West Virginia | $38,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,350 |
| District of Columbia | $111,180 |
How do zoologist salaries compare to similar careers?
Zoologists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than forensic science technicians but more than biotechnicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Forensic science technician salary | $82K |
| Geographer salary | $90K |
| Soil and plant scientist salary | $81K |
| Food science technologist salary | $79K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $85K |
| Zoologist salary | $74K |
| Soil and water conservationist salary | $67K |
| Animal breeder salary | $50K |
| Animal control worker salary | $59K |
| Biotechnician salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)