Jobs Similar to Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to zoologists and wildlife biologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Conservation Scientists, Environmental Scientists and Specialists and Range Managers.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: $76,780 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conservation ScientistsSame group | 82% | $73,010−5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 82% | $82,220+7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Range ManagersSame group | 81% | $73,010Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 81% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 79% | $78,850+3% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | ForestersSame group | 78% | $76,4000% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | BiologistsSame group | 78% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | GeneticistsSame group | 77% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Geographers | 76% | $102,040+33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 76% | $68,940−10% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 75% | $101,920+33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 75% | $87,990+15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 74% | $55,090−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 74% | $99,070+29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSame group | 74% | $103,410+35% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | EpidemiologistsSame group | 74% | $87,220+14% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Molecular and Cellular BiologistsSame group | 74% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 73% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Hydrologists | 73% | $96,600+26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 72% | $101,420+32% | Graduate degree |
- 1Conservation Scientists
82% similar · $73,010 (−5%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
82% similar · $82,220 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Range Managers
81% similar · $73,010 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Environmental Restoration Planners
81% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 5Soil and Plant Scientists
79% similar · $78,850 (+3%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Foresters
78% similar · $76,400 (0%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Biologists
78% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Geneticists
77% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Geographers
76% similar · $102,040 (+33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Animal Scientists
76% similar · $68,940 (−10%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
75% similar · $101,920 (+33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Microbiologists
75% similar · $87,990 (+15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
74% similar · $55,090 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Atmospheric and Space Scientists
74% similar · $99,070 (+29%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
74% similar · $103,410 (+35%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 16Epidemiologists
74% similar · $87,220 (+14%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Molecular and Cellular Biologists
74% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
73% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Hydrologists
73% similar · $96,600 (+26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
72% similar · $101,420 (+32%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than zoologists and wildlife biologists.
- Geographers76% similar · $102,040 (+33%)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers75% similar · $101,920 (+33%)
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists74% similar · $99,070 (+29%)
- Hydrologists73% similar · $96,600 (+26%)
- Microbiologists75% similar · $87,990 (+15%)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health82% similar · $82,220 (+7%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for zoologists and wildlife biologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where zoologists and wildlife biologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Environmental Restoration Planners (82)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (82)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (74)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (73)
- Environmental Economists (70)
- Fish and Game Wardens (68)
- Geographers (68)
- Forensic Science Technicians (67)
- Physicians, Pathologists (44)
Questions about jobs like zoologists and wildlife biologists
What jobs are most similar to zoologists and wildlife biologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Conservation Scientists (82% similar), Environmental Scientists and Specialists (82% similar), Range Managers (81% similar), Environmental Restoration Planners (81% similar) and Soil and Plant Scientists (79% similar).
Which jobs like zoologists and wildlife biologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Medical Scientists ($103,410, +35%; usually a graduate degree), Geographers ($102,040, +33%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) ($101,920, +33%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with zoologists and wildlife biologists ($76,780). Without more preparation than zoologists and wildlife biologists usually need: Geographers, Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) and Atmospheric and Space Scientists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.