Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary · California
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Salary in California
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in California earn a median of $98,530 a year, which is $47.37 an hour. That is $21,750 above the national median of $76,780, a difference of 28 percent. The state employs 2,210.
California against the US May 2025
| Figure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $98,530 | $76,780 |
| Median hourly | $47.37 | $36.91 |
| Mean annual | $111,800 | $83,020 |
| 10th percentile | $58,380 | $49,100 |
| 90th percentile | $177,760 | $126,440 |
| Employment | 2,210 | 18,120 |
How California compares
By median pay, California ranks 1 of the 4 states this site reports for zoologists and wildlife biologists. Ranking is on the published median only. It says nothing about how far that salary goes once housing, state income tax and commuting are paid, and those differences between states are frequently larger than the pay gap itself.
Other states for zoologists and wildlife biologists May 2025
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $85,150 | $40.94 | 1,010 |
| Washington | $83,780 | $40.28 | 1,840 |
| Florida | $52,750 | $25.36 | 1,400 |
Common questions
How much do zoologists and wildlife biologists make in California?
The median salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists in California is $98,530 a year, or $47.37 an hour. That is $21,750 above the national median of $76,780, a difference of 28 percent. California employs 2,210 of them.
Is California a good state to work as a zoologists and wildlife biologist?
On pay alone, California ranks 1 of the 4 states this site reports for the occupation, by median salary. Pay is only half the question though: a state with a higher median can still leave you with less once housing and taxes are counted, and this site does not adjust for cost of living.
What is the pay range for zoologists and wildlife biologists in California?
The lowest-paid 10 percent earn $58,380 or less and the highest-paid 10 percent earn $177,760 or more. The middle half falls between $75,250 and $168,170.
Where these numbers come from
Published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for SOC code 19-1023 in California. Nothing on this page is interpolated or averaged by this site. See the national zoologists and wildlife biologists salary page for the full picture, or how to read these figures for what the survey covers.