If you love animals and want a career working with them, you might want to consider becoming a zoologist! You can often become a zoologist or wildlife biologist with a bachelor’s degree, but if you want higher paying and more prestigious jobs, you can always pursue a master’s or doctorate. Here’s a look at what zoologists do and how you can become one.
What Does a Zoologist Do?
A zoologist studies animals, how they interact with their environment and ecosystems, their origins, and their life processes, including diseases, genetics, and behaviors. Zoologists, also sometimes called wildlife biologists, sometimes choose to focus on wildlife research and management. With jobs in the field, in zoos, and in laboratories and over 8.7 million estimated animal species, there’s no end to the variety that comes with this career.
Some popular specializations for zoologists include aquatic, fish and wildlife, conservation, forest wildlife, migratory game bird, research, and wildlife refuge.
The median salary for zoologists is $70,000. Between 2022 and 2023, the field is projected to grow 3.1%.
What Education Is Required To Be a Zoologist?
Most entry level zoologist jobs require just a bachelor’s degree. However, some niche careers and higher paying roles, including those in research, require a master’s or Ph.D. In 2024, 45% of zoologists and wildlife biologists have a bachelor’s degree. 32% have a master’s and 22% have a doctorate or professional degree. Less than 1% have an associate’s degree or no college degree.
Wildlife biologists and zoologists need to do well in science courses and have skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, complex problem solving, customer service, research, time management, and active learning. They also need to study math, geography, law, and government.
Common Majors for Zoologists
Zoology is an obvious choice, but it’s not the only one! Some common undergraduate college majors for future zoologists include:
1. WILDLIFE, FISH AND WILDLANDS SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management programs focus on conservation and management of wilderness areas, flora, and marine and aquatic life. Courses can cover everything from wildlife biology to parks management.
Other career options for Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management students are:
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median salary: $101,000
- Projected job growth: 6.7%
- Required degree: Doctorate or professional
- Range Managers
- Median salary: $68,000
- Projected job growth: 4%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
2. MARINE BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography students learn about oceans, coastal waters, and saltwater wetlands, including their ecology and the behavior of animals, plants, and microbes that call them home.
Many who study this major also go onto careers as:
- Natural Sciences Managers
- Median salary: $157,000
- Projected job growth: 4.9%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
- Biologists
- Median salary: $91,000
- Projected job growth: 3.8%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
3. ZOOLOGY/ANIMAL BIOLOGY
Zoology/Animal Biology covers everything a future zoologist needs to know, including cell biology, anatomy, ecology, behavior, evolutionary biology, and more.
Some other career options are with a zoology degree include:
- Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median salary: $157,000
- Projected job growth: 4.9%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
- Biological Technicians
- Median salary: $51,000
- Projected job growth: 4.8%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
4. ECOLOGY
Ecology majors study the interactions and relationships within an ecosystem. Classes cover biogeochemistry, marine dynamics, decomposition, nutrient cycles, habitat dynamics, and paleoecology.
Some common careers for ecology students aside from Zoology include:
- Bioinformatics Scientists
- Median salary: $91,000
- Projected job growth: 3.8%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
- Conservation Scientists
- Median salary: $68,000
- Projected job growth: 4%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
5. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY
Wildlife biology focuses specifically on the biological principles of wildlife, their habitats, and their ecosystems in both remote and urban areas. Courses include animal ecology, urban ecosystems, wildlife management, and zoological specializations. Most students go onto be zoologists, wildlife biologists, or biological technicians.
6. BIOLOGY/BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Biology/Biological sciences courses cover the basic principles of the subject, and students can often choose a concentration, such as general biology, zoology, or organic chemistry.
A few other career options are:
- Geneticists
- Median salary: $91,000
- Projected job growth: 3.8%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
- Forensic Science Technicians
- Median salary: $64,000
- Projected job growth: 12.4%
- Required degree: Bachelor’s
Top Schools for Zoology
If you’re interested in becoming a zoologist, here are some top schools that will get you the required education:
- The University of Montana
- Location: Missoula, MT
- Enrollment: 9,955
- Acceptance rate: 96%
- Top college for: Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management
- Eckerd College
- Location: Petersburg, FL
- Enrollment: 1,993
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Top college for: Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
- Location: Norman, OK
- Enrollment: 28,308
- Acceptance rate: 77%
- Top college for: Zoology/Animal Biology
- Connecticut College
- Location: New London, CT
- Enrollment: 1,948
- Acceptance rate: 39%
- Top college for: Ecology
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Location: Syracuse, NY
- Enrollment: 1,976
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Top college for: Wildlife Biology
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
- Enrollment: 31,705
- Acceptance rate: 19%
- Top college for: Biology/Biological Sciences
Should You Become a Zoologist?
With entry-level jobs available for those with bachelor’s degrees, you can become a zoologist in just four years. There are countless specializations available, too, so if you love animals, it can be a rewarding and fascinating career. However, if you’d like higher paying positions, you’re likely going to have to advance your education and earn a master’s or doctorate in your field.
Want to learn more about being a zoologist? Or want to explore related careers and majors? Check out our Career Finder tool to explore potential jobs, growth rates, median salaries, and more!
