How does Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary grow from entry-level to senior in California? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.
180% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2024 • California salary data • Updated 2026-04-06
The salary range for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in California spans from $49,950 at entry-level to $139,650 at senior level — a difference of $89,700 per year.
Senior Zoologists and Wildlife Biologistss in California earn $89,700 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary increases with experience in California, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $49,950 | $4,162 | $24.01 |
| Early Career | P25 | $64,210 | $5,351 | $30.87 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $84,300 | $7,025 | $40.53 |
| Experienced | P75 | $105,370 | $8,781 | $50.66 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $139,650 | $11,638 | $67.14 |
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in California shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $49,950, while senior-level professionals earn $139,650 — a 180% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($84,300) and experienced level ($105,370), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.
Where does California rank for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists senior-level salaries? Compare California's P90 pay to other top-paying states.
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Entry-level Zoologists and Wildlife Biologistss (10th percentile) earn approximately $49,950 per year, or $4,162 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $64,210. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Zoologists and Wildlife Biologistss (90th percentile) earn approximately $139,650 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $105,370. This represents a career premium of 180% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologistss is 180%. Entry-level professionals start at $49,950, while senior-level can earn up to $139,650 — a difference of $89,700 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Zoologists and Wildlife Biologistss is California, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $139,650 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
Salary percentile data for California from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within California.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS