STEM

Zoologist

Watch and study animals in the wild and in zoos to learn how they live and how to protect them

Open interactive guide

What does a Zoologist do?

Zoologists work for wildlife agencies, zoos, universities, and conservation groups. They observe animal behavior, count populations, and study habitats and diets. It suits patient watchers who are comfortable in rough weather and do not mind long hours of note-taking.

A day in the life

5:30 AMHike to a survey site before the animals become active
7:00 AMWatch and record animal behavior in a field notebook
10:30 AMSet up camera traps or collect photos from last week
1:00 PMCollect samples such as fur or droppings for testing
3:00 PMEnter data and map where each animal was seen
5:00 PMWrite a report on how many animals live in the area

What's great

  • Real time spent around wild animals
  • Outdoor work in different places
  • Findings guide how animals are protected
  • A mix of field and lab science

The hard parts

  • Few jobs and many applicants
  • Field work can mean heat, cold, and bugs
  • Some jobs are seasonal or short-term
  • Research roles often need a graduate degree

What is a Zoologist's salary and outlook?

$40k – $101k
Salary Range
Bachelor's degree
Typical Education
Growing

Typical pay in this guide runs from about $40,200 to $100,500 a year, with a midpoint around $67,000. These are planning figures for students, not a job offer or an official wage.

CareerLens rates the outlook as Growing.

For the official national outlook, see BLS Occupational Data.

How do you become a Zoologist?

A common path is Bachelor's degree in zoology, wildlife biology, or biology. The ladder often runs from Field Technician to Zoologist, then Senior Zoologist or Project Leader, and Director of Conservation Science. Other routes: Volunteer or intern at a zoo or wildlife refuge; Master's degree for lead research roles; Work as a zookeeper first, then move into research.

  • Volunteer or intern at a zoo or wildlife refuge
  • Master's degree for lead research roles
  • Work as a zookeeper first, then move into research

Career path

Entry level
Field Technician
Mid career
Zoologist
Senior
Senior Zoologist or Project Leader
Executive
Director of Conservation Science

Will AI replace a Zoologist?

How much will AI change this job?

A lot

AI will change many everyday tasks in this job. The work shifts toward judgment, checking, and people.

AI will handle data crunching, but zoologists still lead in the field.

AI tools can help zoologists sort through animal photos, sounds, and tracking data much faster than before. This frees up time for fieldwork, animal care, and making tough decisions about wildlife. The job shifts toward using AI results wisely and still getting hands-on with nature.

AI can help with

  • Sorting camera trap photos to spot animals
  • Analyzing large sets of tracking or population data
  • Writing first drafts of research reports

What stays human

  • Observing animal behavior in real habitats
  • Making judgment calls on conservation actions
  • Building trust with local communities and teams

Skills to build now

  • Join a science or nature club at school
  • Practice writing clear observations in a journal
  • Learn basic computer skills like spreadsheets or coding

Based on public research from Anthropic and OpenAI, drafted with AI, checked automatically, and read by a person. How we know

This describes how the work may change. It is not a prediction that the job will disappear.