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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

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.

Also called: Aquatic Biologist, Conservation Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist, Fisheries Biologist, Habitat Biologist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$75,190
$36.15/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
160
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+3.0%
20 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$39,370$62,230$75,190$103,910$131,360

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
  • Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
  • Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure65 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 55
  • Language-model AIOE 55
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 84

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and some AI use has been observed. AI tools can help with writing reports and papers and with sorting data from population counts and animal studies. Fieldwork, working with stakeholders on habitat plans, and giving talks to the public rely much more on people.

Likely to change

  • Drafting reports and scientific papers
  • Sorting and analyzing population data

Still relies on people

  • Studying animals in their natural habitats
  • Consulting with the public on habitat plans

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

6 programs near Boston (plus 4 graduate)

Related occupations

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