Headline risk
18%
Moderate RiskZoologists and wildlife biologists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.
Task evidence
81% weighted task match · 8% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 72,860
Employment 2024
18.2K
Projected Change (2024–34)
1.6%
Openings (2024–34)
1.4K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of zoologists and wildlife biologists is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations. AI use: 0%
- 2. Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.
- 3. Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife. AI use: 0%
- 4. Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs. AI use: 0%
- 5. Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified. AI use: 0%
- 6. Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them. AI use: 100%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 44.7 · 1.8M employed
Under 25: 5% · 25–54: 68% · 55+: 27%
Related
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
title_match · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals, those both in captivity and in the wild, and how they interact with their ecosystems.
Most zoologists and wildlife biologists work full time. Zoologists and wildlife biologists work in a variety of settings, including offices and laboratories. Depending on their job, they also may spend time outdoors, gathering data and studying animals in their natural habitats.
Zoologists and wildlife biologists typically need a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions and may need a master’s degree for higher level jobs. They typically need a Ph.D. to lead research projects.
The median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists was $72,860 in May 2024.
Employment of zoologists and wildlife biologists is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.