Zoologist Job Description Templates for Zoos, Sanctuaries, and Field Teams
6 free templates for the small employers that hire zoologists without an HR department: general, field, facility, conservation, research, and technician. Download as DOCX.
Most zoologist job descriptions online were written for a federal agency or a university. They assume a central HR office, a published pay grade, a fixed posting format, and a hiring cycle measured in months. If you run a private wildlife facility, a sanctuary, or a small consulting firm, none of that is your situation, and copying that posting tells candidates almost nothing about the job you are actually offering.
It is also a small field. Federal data puts employment for zoologists and wildlife biologists at roughly 18,200 nationally, with about 1,400 openings projected each year over the decade from 2024 to 2034 and employment growth of 2 percent. Government is the largest employer, followed by scientific and technical consulting services. The private slice is real, but it is narrow, and vague postings get ignored inside it.
At FirstHR we write hiring templates for exactly that employer. The six below cover a general zoologist, a field and survey role, a facility staff zoologist, a conservation program role, a research zoologist, and an hourly technician, each with the classification, permit, and screening notes generic versions leave out.
TL;DR
A zoologist studies animal biology, behavior, and populations, and the posting has to name the taxa, the setting, and the season structure to attract anyone. BLS OEWS (May 2025) puts the national median at $76,780. Degreed zoologists are usually exempt learned professionals at or above $684 per week. Technicians and keepers are not. Six templates below, downloadable as DOCX.
Who Actually Hires a Zoologist
The occupation is concentrated in government and universities, so a small private employer is hiring into a pool shaped by someone else’s norms. That is worth knowing before you write a word: candidates are comparing your offer against an agency posting with a defined grade and a pension.
The private side splits into four settings, and each one changes the job more than the job title suggests. A staff zoologist at a licensed facility and a survey zoologist at a consulting firm share a degree and almost nothing else about their week.
Private zoo, aquarium, or wildlife park
Licensed exhibitor
You hold a federal exhibitor license, keep inspection-ready records, and hire a zoologist to own the science behind the collection. The posting has to separate professional program work from daily keeper work, because the two carry different overtime rules.
Sanctuary or rehabilitation nonprofit
Permit-driven and grant-funded
State wildlife rehabilitation permits and federal migratory bird authority shape what the role may legally do. Funding is often tied to a grant term, so say so in the posting rather than surprising the hire in month ten.
Environmental or ecological consulting firm
The biggest private employer
Survey work for developers, utilities, and agencies is where most small private employers hire zoologists. Seasonal work windows, permit conditions, and billable report writing define the job more than the animals do.
Government agency or university
Out of scope here
Agencies and universities employ most zoologists in the country, and they hire through a central HR office with a published pay scale and a fixed posting format. These templates are written for the private side instead.
Match the Posting to the Work, Not the Word Zoologist
Zoologist covers four different jobs and two different overtime answers. A degreed scientist designing surveys and writing defensible reports is an exempt learned professional. A keeper doing daily husbandry, a field assistant recording data to someone else’s protocol, and a seasonal technician are all non-exempt and owed overtime. Titles do not decide this. Pick the template that matches the actual day, then classify from the duties you wrote down.
What Belongs in the Posting
A zoologist job description does four jobs at once: it sells the work, it filters unqualified applicants, it protects you legally, and it closes the candidate. Most postings do only the first, which is why they draw volume and not fit. Here is the full inventory.
The parts candidates read first
The taxa or species group, named specifically
The setting: facility, field, lab, or a split
The field season length and travel share
Who the role reports to and works alongside
The parts that filter applicants
Degree level, stated as required or preferred
Species identification skills you will actually test
Permits or certifications the work depends on
Physical demands written honestly
The parts that protect you
FLSA classification stated on the posting
Essential functions written plainly
Equal opportunity statement
Background check and clearance notice
The parts that win the hire
Salary or a good-faith range
Per diem, lodging, and mileage policy for field work
Conference, publication, or training support
A named person and a real deadline to apply
The most common omission at small employers is the season structure. Candidates want to know how many weeks are field weeks, how far from home, whether lodging and per diem are covered, and what happens in the off season. Silence there reads as an employer who has not decided, and experienced field zoologists assume the worst. Our guide to writing a job description covers the general structure in more depth.
6 Zoologist Job Description Templates to Download
Download all six as one file or copy them individually. Each follows the same structure: organization overview, position summary, key responsibilities, required qualifications, a classification and compliance note, an equal opportunity statement, and how to apply. The bracketed fields are the only parts you need to change.
Download All 6 Zoologist Job Description Templates
General, field and wildlife, zoo and aquarium, conservation program, research, and zoological technician. All in one download.
Zoologist (General)
The baseline posting
The all-purpose version, covering study design, data work, husbandry advice, and permit records. Start here and cut what does not apply.
Field / Wildlife Zoologist
Surveys and permitting
For consulting work: survey design, species identification, protocol data, GIS, and the reports that carry a permitting decision.
Zoo / Aquarium Staff Zoologist
Collection science
For a licensed facility: welfare assessment, breeding and transfer records, inspection readiness, and keeper team leadership.
Conservation Program Zoologist
Nonprofit and sanctuary
For grant-funded program work: monitoring design, permits, grant reporting, volunteer programs, and partner coordination.
Research Zoologist
Behavior and physiology
For study design and publication, with animal care and use protocols, occupational health, and reproducible analysis built in.
Zoological Technician
Entry level, hourly
The non-exempt support role, with the overtime obligation, the hours-worked rules, and the seasonal terms stated plainly.
Template 1: Zoologist (General)
The all-purpose version, covering study design, data analysis, husbandry advice, and permit records. Start here and cut what does not apply to your organization.
Zoologist Job Description (General)
ZOOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Director of Animal Programs / Science Director / Owner]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (learned professional; see classification note)
Compensation: $_ per year
ABOUT [ORGANIZATION NAME]
[Organization Name] is a [private zoo / aquarium / wildlife park / sanctuary /
consulting firm] in [City, State] working with [taxa or species groups]. We are
hiring a Zoologist to lead the scientific side of our animal program, from
survey design through reporting.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Zoologist studies animal biology, behavior, and populations for
[Organization Name], designs and runs studies, analyzes the resulting data, and
translates findings into husbandry decisions, conservation plans, or client
deliverables.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Design and conduct studies of animal behavior, physiology, health, or
population dynamics for [species or taxa]
•Plan and run field or in-house surveys: [transects, point counts, camera
traps, acoustic monitoring, mark and recapture, capture and handling]
•Collect, catalog, and manage specimens, samples, and observational records
•Analyze data using [R, Python, GIS, statistical software] and interpret trends
•Advise on habitat design, enrichment, diet, and welfare in collaboration with
[keepers / veterinary staff]
•Maintain records required by [USDA Animal Welfare Act licensing, state
wildlife permits, accreditation standards]
•Train and supervise [technicians, seasonal field staff, interns, volunteers]
•Represent the organization with [agencies, partners, donors, the public]
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in zoology, wildlife biology, ecology, or a related field;
[master's / doctorate] preferred
•[Number] years of applied experience with [taxa or setting]
•Demonstrated data analysis and technical writing ability
•Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to [field sites]
•Must clear a background check and any clearance required for animal facility
access
•[Species-specific handling certification / permit eligibility, if applicable]
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE NOTE (read before posting)
A zoologist whose primary duty requires advanced knowledge in a field of science
customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized instruction generally
qualifies for the FLSA learned professional exemption, which also requires a
salary of at least $684 per week. A role that is mostly animal husbandry,
cleaning, feeding, and routine data entry is not a learned professional role and
is non-exempt regardless of the title. If your facility exhibits animals to the
public, holds native wildlife, or runs research on covered species, confirm your
USDA Animal Welfare Act license or registration and your state and federal
wildlife permits before posting. This is general information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_ per year, [benefits summary], [field per diem policy]
To apply, email __ with your resume, a writing sample, and
a short note on the taxa you have worked with.
Template 2: Field / Wildlife Zoologist
For consulting and survey work: survey design, species identification, protocol data collection, GIS mapping, and the reports that carry a permitting decision. If the scope is broader than wildlife, the environmental scientist templates may fit better.
Field / Wildlife Zoologist Job Description
FIELD / WILDLIFE ZOOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Employer: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Principal Scientist / Project Manager / Owner]
For a licensed facility: welfare assessment, breeding and transfer records, inspection readiness, and leadership of the keeper team. Facilities with aquatic collections should also look at the marine biologist templates.
Zoo / Aquarium Staff Zoologist Job Description
ZOO / AQUARIUM STAFF ZOOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Facility: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [General Curator / Director of Animal Care / Owner]
Employment type: Full-time, [some weekend and holiday coverage]
FLSA status: Exempt when the primary duty is professional (see note)
Compensation: $_ per year
ABOUT THIS FACILITY
[Facility Name] holds [number] species across [collection areas] and welcomes
[number] visitors a year. We are hiring a Staff Zoologist to own the science
behind the collection: welfare assessment, breeding and transfer planning,
record keeping, and the documentation our license and accreditation require.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Staff Zoologist oversees the biological program for an assigned area of the
collection, sets husbandry and welfare standards with the keeper team and
veterinary staff, maintains animal records, and prepares the reporting that
regulators and accrediting bodies expect.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Set and review husbandry, diet, enrichment, and habitat standards for
[assigned taxa] with keepers and veterinary staff
•Run behavioral and welfare assessments and act on what they show
•Maintain the animal records system: acquisitions, dispositions, births,
deaths, transfers, medical history, and identification
•Prepare breeding, transfer, and species survival documentation with partner
institutions
•Keep the facility inspection-ready under USDA Animal Welfare Act standards
and [accreditation program] requirements
•Write and maintain protocols for handling, restraint, quarantine, escape
response, and emergency care
•Support [education, guest experience, docent training, media requests]
•Contribute to [conservation programs, in-situ partnerships, research]
•Supervise and mentor [keepers, technicians, seasonal staff, interns]
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in zoology, animal science, biology, or a related field;
master's preferred
•[Number] years of professional experience with [taxa] in a managed care
setting
•Working knowledge of Animal Welfare Act standards and [accreditation program]
requirements
•Experience with a zoological records system
•Physically able to work outdoors in all weather and to lift [__] pounds
•Must clear a background check; [rabies pre-exposure vaccination and TB
screening as applicable]
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE NOTE
Do not assume the exemption. A staff zoologist whose primary duty is applying
advanced zoological knowledge to program design, welfare science, records, and
compliance is generally an exempt learned professional paid at least $684 per
week on a salary basis. A role that is mostly daily husbandry, cleaning,
feeding, and guest contact is a keeper or animal caretaker role, is non-exempt,
and must be paid overtime past forty hours in a week. Write the posting for the
job you actually need. Separately, any facility exhibiting animals to the public
for compensation generally needs a USDA Animal Welfare Act exhibitor license,
and state permits often apply to native wildlife on top of it. Confirm both
before you hire. This is general information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Facility Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_ per year, [benefits summary], [uniform and PPE
provided]
To apply, email __ with your resume and the taxa you have
managed.
Template 4: Conservation Program Zoologist
For grant-funded program work at a sanctuary, land trust, or conservation nonprofit: monitoring design, permits, grant reporting, volunteer programs, and partner coordination.
Conservation Program Zoologist Job Description
CONSERVATION PROGRAM ZOOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Executive Director / Conservation Director]
FLSA status: Exempt (learned professional; see classification note)
Compensation: $_ per year
ABOUT THIS ROLE
[Organization Name] is a [nonprofit sanctuary / land trust / conservation
organization] working on [species or habitat] in [region]. We are hiring a
Conservation Program Zoologist to run the science behind our programs and to
keep our funders and agency partners informed with credible data.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Conservation Program Zoologist designs and runs monitoring and recovery
programs for [target species], analyzes population and habitat data, writes the
reports that grants and permits require, and represents the organization to
partners, agencies, and supporters.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Design and run monitoring programs for [target species or habitat]
•Analyze population, habitat, and trend data and set measurable program goals
•Write grant proposals, interim reports, and final reports on schedule
•Prepare and maintain state and federal permits the program depends on
•Coordinate with [agency staff, university partners, landowners, volunteers]
•Manage [rehabilitation intake, release protocols, translocation plans] where
the program includes them
•Lead volunteer and community science efforts: recruit, train, and quality
check the data they produce
•Present results to [the board, funders, the public, conferences]
•Track the program budget against the grant that pays for it
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in zoology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, or a
related field; master's strongly preferred
•[Number] years of program or field experience with [taxa]
•Grant writing and reporting experience
•Data analysis with [R, GIS] and clear technical writing
•Comfort working with volunteers and speaking to non-scientists
•Must clear a background check; [wildlife rehabilitation permit or eligibility,
if applicable]
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE NOTE
A program zoologist doing professional scientific and program design work is
generally an exempt learned professional at or above $684 per week on a salary
basis. Nonprofit status does not create an exemption from the FLSA: a small
conservation nonprofit still owes overtime to its non-exempt staff, and
volunteers may not perform the same work as paid employees for free. Grant
funding does not change classification either. If the program handles native
wildlife, migratory birds, or listed species, the required federal and state
permits must be in place before the work starts, and rehabilitation activities
carry their own state permit in most states. This is general information, not
legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_ per year, [benefits summary], [grant term if
time-limited]
To apply, email __ with your resume, a report or proposal
you wrote, and two references.
Template 5: Research Zoologist
For study design and publication, with animal care and use protocols, occupational health enrollment, and reproducible analysis built in. Compare it against the broader research scientist templates if the work is not animal-specific.
Research Zoologist Job Description
RESEARCH ZOOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Employer: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Principal Investigator / Director of Research]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (learned professional; see classification note)
ecology] in [species or system], working with [partners or clients]. We are
hiring a Research Zoologist to design studies, run them properly, and publish or
report what they show.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Research Zoologist develops research questions, designs and executes
studies on animal biology or behavior, manages the data and the animals involved
to protocol, and communicates results through publications, reports, and
presentations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Design studies and write protocols, including sample size and controls
•Run experiments and observational studies in [lab, enclosure, field] settings
•Prepare and maintain animal care and use protocols with the [IACUC or review
body] and keep approvals current
•Handle, sample, and monitor animals under approved procedures
•Manage data: collection, quality control, storage, and version history
•Analyze results with [R, Python, statistical software] and interpret them
honestly, including negative results
•Write manuscripts, technical reports, and [funder or client] deliverables
•Present at [lab meetings, conferences, client reviews]
•Train and supervise [technicians, students, interns] in approved procedures
•Maintain equipment, supplies, and records for [assigned areas]
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[Master's degree / doctorate] in zoology, animal behavior, physiology, or a
related field
•[Number] years of research experience with [taxa or techniques]
•Publication or technical reporting record appropriate to the level
•Statistical competence and reproducible analysis habits
•Experience working under an approved animal care and use protocol
•Must clear a background check; [occupational health enrollment, rabies
pre-exposure vaccination, or respirator clearance as applicable]
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE NOTE
A research zoologist holding an advanced degree and exercising independent
scientific judgment is a clear learned professional under the FLSA, subject to
the $684 per week salary requirement. Note that employees holding a valid
doctorate and teaching in an educational establishment fall under a separate
rule, and a postdoctoral researcher whose work is research rather than teaching
is evaluated as a learned professional instead. Research on covered species
requires facility registration under the Animal Welfare Act, an approved animal
care and use protocol, and, for protected wildlife, federal and state permits.
Build occupational health enrollment into onboarding rather than treating it as
paperwork to finish later. This is general information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Employer Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_ per year, [benefits summary], [conference and
publication support]
To apply, email __ with your resume, a publication or
report, and a research statement.
Template 6: Zoological Technician / Field Assistant
The non-exempt support role, with the overtime obligation, the hours-worked rules, and the seasonal terms stated plainly. This is the template most small employers actually need first.
Zoological Technician / Field Assistant Job Description
ZOOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN / FIELD ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION
Employer: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Zoologist / Field Lead / Lab Manager]
•Prepare, label, and log samples and maintain chain of custody
•Assist with animal handling, restraint, and transport under supervision and
within approved procedures
•Clean, disinfect, and maintain [enclosures, vehicles, gear, work areas]
•Enter and quality check data on the schedule the project requires
•Report anything unusual, including welfare concerns, immediately
•Follow all safety, biosecurity, and permit conditions
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[High school diploma / associate degree / coursework in biology: set your bar]
•[Number] months of relevant field, animal care, or lab experience, or
equivalent coursework
•Careful, legible, consistent record keeping
•Physical ability to [lift __ pounds, hike __ miles over uneven ground, work in
heat, cold, and rain]
•Valid driver's license
•Must clear a background check; [vaccinations, respirator clearance, or
certifications as applicable]
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE NOTE
This role is non-exempt. Hourly technicians and field assistants are entitled to
overtime at one and one half times the regular rate past forty hours in a
workweek, and field seasons regularly cross that line. Track hours honestly,
including travel between work sites during the day, required pre-shift equipment
prep, and post-shift data entry. Paying a flat weekly or daily amount to a
technician does not make the role exempt: the exemption requires professional
duties, not a salary label. Seasonal work does not remove the obligation either.
Workers under 18 face additional restrictions on hazardous tasks, driving, and
hours. This is general information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Employer Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_ per hour, [overtime paid past 40 hours], [housing or
per diem if provided], [season dates]
To apply, email __ with your resume and your availability
window.
Overtime and the Professional Exemption
A zoologist is usually an exempt learned professional, but the exemption has two independent gates and both must be cleared. The duties gate asks whether the primary duty requires advanced scientific knowledge and independent judgment. The pay gate asks whether the role earns at least $684 per week on a salary basis.
The federal regulation on learned professionals sets the duties test in three parts: the work must require advanced knowledge, that knowledge must be in a field of science or learning, and it must be customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction. A zoology or wildlife biology degree plus real analytical responsibility clears it. A field assistant following a protocol does not, no matter how much biology they know.
The exemption follows the duties, and the salary floor still applies
A zoologist is a textbook candidate for the learned professional exemption: the work requires advanced knowledge in a field of science, customarily acquired through a prolonged course of specialized instruction, and it calls for consistent independent judgment. Unlike teachers, zoologists get no pass on the salary test, so the role must also be paid at least $684 per week on a salary basis. Two failure modes are common at small facilities. The first is exempting a keeper or technician because the job title says zoologist while the day is feeding, cleaning, and data entry. The second is paying a real professional a flat weekly amount below the threshold and assuming the degree carries the exemption on its own. It does not. This is general information, not legal advice.
Animal Welfare Act licensing sits underneath the hire
If your organization exhibits animals to the public for compensation, deals in regulated animals, or uses them in research, federal law generally requires a license or a registration administered by USDA Animal Care, and the exhibitor category explicitly covers zoos whether or not they operate for profit. Licensed facilities are inspected, and inspections look at records, veterinary care, enclosures, and personnel qualifications. That last point is why the job description matters: the posting is where you state the experience level and training your standards actually require. Keep license status, inspection reports, protocol approvals, and staff training records together and current, and confirm your obligations directly with USDA Animal Care rather than assuming your size exempts you. This is general information, not legal advice.
Permits, not licenses, govern most wildlife work
There is no federal zoologist license and no state credential to check, which surprises employers coming from veterinary or clinical hiring. What does gate the work is permits attached to species and activities: federal authority for migratory birds and listed species, state permits for possession, capture, banding, salvage, and rehabilitation, and scientific collecting permits for specimens. Permits are usually issued to a person or a facility for named activities, so a new hire does not automatically inherit yours, and your work can stall while theirs is processed. Ask about permit status in the interview, put permit eligibility in the posting where the job depends on it, and track expiration dates the way you track insurance renewals. This is general information, not legal advice.
Zoonotic risk and occupational health are hiring steps
Anyone working closely with animals carries a real occupational health load: rabies pre-exposure vaccination for species with exposure risk, tetanus currency, tuberculosis screening in primate settings, respirator fit testing where dust or dander warrants it, and documented training on bites, scratches, and needle sticks. Add heat, cold, remote sites, vehicles, and boats for field roles. None of this is optional and none of it belongs in the pile of paperwork someone gets to in month two. Write the requirements into the job description so candidates self-select, complete the enrollment before first animal contact, and keep the records with renewal dates attached so nothing lapses quietly. Confirm requirements with your veterinarian and your state occupational health authority. This is general information, not legal advice.
Everyone outside the exemption needs hours tracked and overtime paid past forty in a workweek, which matters because field seasons routinely run past it. If you are unsure which side a role falls on, our breakdown of exempt versus non-exempt classification works through the tests in order. Seasonal terms and grant funding change nothing about the analysis.
Permits, Licensing, and Animal Welfare Compliance
There is no zoologist license anywhere in the United States, which catches out employers used to hiring veterinarians or nurses. What regulates the work is a layer of permits attached to species and activities, plus federal licensing that attaches to the organization rather than the person.
Facility licensing comes from USDA Animal Care, which administers the Animal Welfare Act. The exhibitor category covers zoos and similar facilities showing animals to the public for compensation, whether or not they operate for profit, and research facilities register separately. Permits for wildlife are different again: they are issued to a named person or facility for named activities, so a new hire does not inherit yours.
Requirement
Attaches to
How to handle it in the posting
Degree in zoology or wildlife biology
The person
State the level and mark it required or preferred; name acceptable adjacent fields
Animal Welfare Act license or registration
The organization
Not a candidate requirement; mention that the facility is licensed and inspected
Federal migratory bird or listed species permit
Person or facility
State permit eligibility where the work depends on it, and ask about status at interview
State possession, capture, or banding permit
Person or facility
Same: eligibility in the posting, current status confirmed before the start date
Wildlife rehabilitation permit
Usually the person
Required for intake and release work; say whether you sponsor or expect it on arrival
Animal care and use protocol approval
The study
Research roles only; note that work runs under an approved protocol
Occupational health enrollment
The person
Vaccinations and screening completed before first animal contact, not after
FLSA classification
The role
State exempt or non-exempt on the posting so pay expectations match reality
Track permit expiration dates the way you track insurance renewals, because a lapsed permit stops the fieldwork it authorizes and there is rarely a fast fix. Where accreditation matters to your visitors or funders, the accrediting body may impose staffing and qualification standards that sit above federal minimums, so read those before writing the requirement into a posting you will have to honor.
What to Pay a Zoologist
National wage data for this occupation is pulled upward by federal and state agency employment, so treat the median as a reference point rather than a target. The spread between the 10th and 90th percentile is wide enough that the national number alone will not tell you what to offer.
National Wages for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), zoologists and wildlife biologists had a median annual wage of $76,780, or $36.91 per hour. The 10th percentile earned $49,100, the 25th percentile $61,180, the 75th percentile $96,100, and the 90th percentile $126,440 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS occupation profile).
Role
National median (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Note for small private employers
Zoologist and wildlife biologist
$76,780 per year
The direct match; agency employment pulls the figure upward
Same occupation, 10th percentile
$49,100 per year
Realistic entry point for a first professional role
Same occupation, 25th percentile
$61,180 per year
Common landing zone for a small consulting or facility hire
Same occupation, 75th percentile
$96,100 per year
Senior or lead roles with program ownership
Same occupation, 90th percentile
$126,440 per year
Principal scientists and agency seniority, rarely small employers
Conservation scientist
$73,010 per year
Useful anchor for habitat and land management program roles
Biological technician
$57,510 per year
Benchmark for a degreed but non-professional support role
Animal caretaker
$35,360 per year
Keeper and husbandry work; a different job and a different classification
Benchmark to comparable local employers rather than the national median, and publish a good-faith range where pay transparency laws apply. For field roles, be explicit about per diem, lodging, mileage, and gear, because those line items change the real value of an offer by thousands of dollars and candidates who have been burned once will ask anyway.
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Two sentences belong in every zoologist posting: one stating that employment is contingent on a background check and on completing occupational health requirements before first animal contact, and one stating which permits the role depends on. Both filter honestly, and both save a withdrawn offer later.
Beyond that, screen on the two skills that actually predict performance and are easy to overstate on a resume: species identification and technical writing. Test them directly. A short field or specimen identification exercise and a two-page writing sample will separate candidates faster than any interview question, and both are cheap to run. Our guides to running a background check and state background check laws cover the notice requirements.
Occupational Health Comes Before First Animal Contact
The expensive mistake at small facilities is letting a new hire start handling animals while rabies pre-exposure vaccination, tuberculosis screening, or respirator clearance is still pending, because the season is starting and everyone is short-staffed. That gap is exactly what an inspection or an incident review finds, and it is what an insurer asks about after a bite. Build the health timeline backward from the start date and hold the line. A shared checklist with real dates beats a folder on someone's desk every season.
Hiring a Zoologist Without an HR Department
Small employers in this field fail in three predictable places: the candidate pool is national and agency-dominated, the work is seasonal and permit-bound, and the compliance records scatter. Each has a fix that costs nothing but structure.
You are competing against agencies and universities for a small national candidate pool
This is a narrow occupation. Federal projections put employment at roughly 18,200 nationally with about 1,400 openings a year, and the largest employers are government agencies, followed by scientific and technical consulting. As a small private employer you are not going to out-pay a federal grade or out-prestige a university lab, so compete on the things a small organization genuinely offers: real ownership of a program instead of a slice of one, direct access to the decision maker, field time rather than committee time, and a hiring decision you can make in a week. Name the taxa and the actual work in the first two lines of the posting, because a zoologist chooses by system and species long before they compare benefits.
The role is seasonal, permit-bound, and the paperwork is not the same twice
Wildlife work runs on windows. Breeding surveys happen when the animals breed, permits expire on their own schedule, grant terms end mid-project, and a technician hired in March is gone by October. That turns hiring into a recurring event rather than a one-time task, and each cycle drags the same stack behind it: offer letter, tax forms, background check, vaccination and occupational health records, permit copies, safety and handling training sign-offs, vehicle and equipment acknowledgments. Doing that from memory every season is how a lapsed clearance ends up discovered during an inspection. Standardize the sequence once, then run the same one for every seasonal hire.
Compliance records live in a folder, a truck, and three inboxes
Small organizations lose track of exactly the documents that matter under inspection: who is current on rabies pre-exposure, whose state permit expires in June, who signed the handling protocol, who completed biosecurity training. FirstHR was built for this. The onboarding wizard runs the same sequence for every hire, e-signature handles offer letters and protocol acknowledgments, document management stores permits, vaccination records, and certifications against each employee profile with renewal dates attached, and training modules deliver safety and handling orientation before first animal contact. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR. Note that FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a payroll provider.
Once the offer is signed, the work shifts to a repeatable onboarding checklist. Build it once and run the same one every season, so the sequence stops depending on who happens to remember what the last hire needed.
A zoologist job description has to name the taxa, the setting, and the field season structure, because zoologists self-select on system and species long before they compare benefits.
The occupation is small and agency-dominated: about 18,200 employed nationally with roughly 1,400 openings a year, so a small private employer competes on program ownership and speed rather than pay.
Degreed zoologists doing survey design, analysis, and reporting are usually exempt learned professionals, but the role must also clear $684 per week on a salary basis.
Technicians, field assistants, and keepers are non-exempt and owed overtime past forty hours, which matters most during field seasons that routinely run long.
There is no zoologist license; permits attached to species and activities gate the work, and Animal Welfare Act licensing attaches to the facility rather than the person.
BLS OEWS (May 2025) puts the national median at $76,780, with a range from $49,100 at the 10th percentile to $126,440 at the 90th, so benchmark locally rather than nationally.
Seasonal hiring means the same paperwork every year, and permits and vaccinations expire on their own schedule. FirstHR runs one onboarding sequence for every hire, with e-signature for offers and protocol acknowledgments, document storage for permits and health records, and renewal dates tracked so nothing lapses quietly. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a zoologist do?
A zoologist studies animals: their biology, behavior, physiology, and how their populations interact with the environment around them. In practice the day splits into four blocks. Study and survey design comes first, deciding what to measure, over what area, and with what effort. Then field or facility work: transects, trapping, camera and acoustic monitoring, behavioral observation, sampling, or husbandry oversight. Then data work, meaning cleaning, mapping, and statistical analysis. Finally writing, because almost every zoologist role ends in a report, a permit application, a grant deliverable, or a paper. The mix shifts by setting. A consulting zoologist writes permitting reports, a facility zoologist owns welfare and collection records, a conservation zoologist runs monitoring programs and grants, and a research zoologist designs studies and publishes. Name the mix you need in the posting, because candidates choose on it.
What should a zoologist job description include?
It should include eight things: the taxa or species group named specifically, the setting split between field, facility, and lab, the survey or program work in concrete terms, the data and writing expectations, the degree level marked required or preferred, any permits or certifications the role depends on, the FLSA classification, and the pay with a good-faith range. Add the physical demands honestly, because field roles involve early starts, remote sites, and weather that some candidates cannot or will not accept. Then add the equal opportunity statement, the background check and occupational health notice, a named person to apply to, and a deadline. The single most common omission is the field season structure: how many weeks away, how much travel, and whether per diem and lodging are covered. Vagueness there costs you strong candidates who assume the worst.
Are zoologists exempt from overtime under the FLSA?
Usually yes, but the exemption follows the duties and the salary, not the title. A zoologist qualifies for the learned professional exemption when the primary duty requires advanced knowledge in a field of science customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction, and when the role is paid at least $684 per week on a salary basis. Both parts must hold. A degreed zoologist designing surveys, interpreting data, and writing defensible reports meets the duties test comfortably. A technician following someone else’s protocol, a field assistant recording data, and a keeper doing daily husbandry do not, and they are non-exempt and owed overtime past forty hours in a workweek. That distinction bites hardest during field season, when weeks routinely run long. Decide classification before the season starts, and track hours for everyone on the non-exempt side. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a zoologist make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), zoologists and wildlife biologists had a national median annual wage of $76,780, which works out to $36.91 per hour. The spread is wide: the 10th percentile earned $49,100, the 25th percentile $61,180, the 75th percentile $96,100, and the 90th percentile $126,440. Those figures are pulled upward by federal and state agency employment, which dominates the occupation, so a small private employer should benchmark against comparable local employers rather than the national median. Related classifications give useful anchors for support roles: biological technicians had a median of $57,510 and animal caretakers $35,360 in the same survey. Publish a good-faith range where your state or city requires it, and be explicit about per diem, lodging, and mileage for field roles, because those materially change what an offer is worth.
Does a zoologist need a license or a permit?
There is no federal or state zoologist license, which is the first thing to understand if you are used to hiring veterinarians or nurses. What gates the work instead is permits tied to specific species and activities. Federal authority is required for migratory birds and for listed species, and states issue their own permits for possession, capture, banding, salvage, scientific collecting, and wildlife rehabilitation. Permits attach to a person or a facility for named activities, so a new hire does not automatically inherit yours and your project can stall while a new one is processed. Separately, if your organization exhibits animals to the public for compensation or uses regulated animals in research, USDA Animal Care licensing or registration under the Animal Welfare Act applies to the organization itself. Ask about permit status during the interview and state permit eligibility in the posting when the job depends on it.
What is the difference between a zoologist and a zookeeper?
Primary duty, and it changes classification, pay, and credentials. A zoologist applies advanced scientific knowledge: designing studies and surveys, assessing welfare and behavior systematically, analyzing population data, maintaining collection and research records, and writing reports for regulators, funders, or clients. A zookeeper or animal caretaker provides daily care: feeding, cleaning, enrichment delivery, observation, and guest interaction. That difference is why a zoologist typically qualifies for the FLSA learned professional exemption while a keeper is non-exempt and entitled to overtime. It also drives the wage gap: BLS OEWS (May 2025) puts the zoologist and wildlife biologist median at $76,780 against $35,360 for animal caretakers. If most of the day is hands-on husbandry, post a keeper or animal caretaker role rather than a zoologist role, whatever title the organization chart uses.
How do I hire a zoologist for a small organization with no HR department?
Run a fixed sequence and start it against the field season, not the calendar. Write a posting that names the taxa, the setting, the season structure, and the pay range up front, because zoologists self-select on system and species. Screen for the two things that predict performance: verifiable species identification skill and clear technical writing. Test both directly, with a field or specimen identification exercise and a short writing sample, rather than trusting the resume. Check references with someone who saw the candidate produce data. Then move fast, because speed is one of the few advantages a small employer has. Onboarding is where small organizations slip, so run it as a checklist: background check, occupational health enrollment and vaccinations before first animal contact, permit copies, handling and biosecurity training sign-offs, and safety acknowledgments. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
