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Zoologist - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Zoologist"
How much does a Zoologist in the federal government get paid? $133,623.31* *Based on the 2021 average.Zoologist was the 415th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 49 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) hired the most employees titled Zoology, with an average salary of $139,334.
Government Zoology jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Zoology 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 Zoologist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) | 16 | $139,334.38 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 13 | $146,236.85 |
| Geological Survey | 10 | $126,020.60 |
| Agricultural Research Service | 3 | $129,764.33 |
| Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | 2 | $120,194.50 |
| Food and Drug Administration | 2 | $143,606.00 |
| Environmental Protection Agency | 1 | $110,256.00 |
| National Park Service | 1 | $77,582.00 |
| National Institutes of Health | 1 | $52,175.00 |
Zoologist Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Zoologist is $133,623.31. The highest paid Zoologist made $182,787 in 2021.
Common Zoologist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Zoology Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 30 |
| ZP - Scientific And Engineering Professional | 13 |
| EI - Advisory Committee Member (other) | 3 |
| ED - Expert (5 U.s.c. 3109) | 1 |
| GM - Employees Covered By The Performance Management And Recognition System (pmrs) Termination Provisions | 1 |
| 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 Zoology 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Research | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Compliance Inspection and Support | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Psychology | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Meteorology | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Botany | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
Average Zoology Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Zoologist was $95,786. Since then, the average pay has increased to $133,623 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 0410.