FederalPay.org
Wildlife Biologist - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Wildlife Biologist"
How much does a Wildlife Biologist in the federal government get paid? $85,868.58* *Based on the 2021 average.Wildlife Biologist was the 114th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 2,003 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Forest Service hired the most employees titled Wildlife Biology, with an average salary of $80,046.
Government Wildlife Biology jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Wildlife Biology job is GS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions fall under this job category. Due to the growing focus of them STEM fields, individuals in this job category tend to advance more quickly than employees in the other job categories. Jobs in this category are being added quickly and many organizations have trouble finding qualified individuals. Individuals in this job category typically recieve pormotions of 2 grade increases at a time until they reach GS-12.
Agencies that have hired a Wildlife Biologist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 525 | $80,046.18 |
| Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | 515 | $78,330.39 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 458 | $93,118.05 |
| Bureau of Land Management | 216 | $76,428.63 |
| Geological Survey | 128 | $115,891.30 |
| National Park Service | 80 | $84,920.74 |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service | 36 | $95,575.00 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 12 | $141,699.92 |
| Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | 11 | $116,064.36 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 9 | $89,179.11 |
| Bureau of Ocean Energy Management | 5 | $117,186.00 |
| Environmental Protection Agency | 3 | $125,357.33 |
| Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) | 3 | $163,717.67 |
| Indian Affairs | 2 | $86,200.00 |
Wildlife Biologist Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Wildlife Biologist is $85,868.58. The highest paid Wildlife Biologist made $199,300 in 2021.
Common Wildlife Biologist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Wildlife Biology Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 1,981 |
| ZP - Scientific And Engineering Professional | 12 |
| ST - Scientific And Professional | 6 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified | 3 |
| SL - Senior Level Positions | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $36,070.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $152,771.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Professional and Scientific |
| Occupation Family: | 0400 NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-6 Paygrade
GS-6 is the starting paygrade for Wildlife Biology jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrating | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Food Services | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Materials Engineering | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Industrial Engineering | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Messenger | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Wildlife Biology Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Wildlife Biologist was $60,588. Since then, the average pay has increased to $85,869 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0486.