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Best states for a fish and wildlife biologist
Quoted expert
Dr. Ashley Mattison
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like fish and wildlife biologists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for fish and wildlife biologists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As fish and wildlife biologists are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for fish and wildlife biologists. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a fish and wildlife biologist, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
The median salary for fish and wildlife biologists in Alaska is $70,225. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $37,150, which ranked worst for fish and wildlife biologists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a fish and wildlife biologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for fish and wildlife biologists in 2026
1. Alaska
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $70,225 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 11.05
2. Maine
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $66,038 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 2.02
3. Massachusetts
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $63,134 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 2.2
4. West Virginia
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $60,666 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 2.14
5. California
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $66,207 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 2.31
6. Nebraska
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $60,003 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 2.27
7. Rhode Island
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $62,812 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.49
8. Pennsylvania
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $60,737 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
9. Utah
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $61,927 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.47
10. Oregon
Total fish and wildlife biologist jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $60,598 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
Fish and wildlife biologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a fish and wildlife biologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a fish and wildlife biologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $70,225 | $44,000 | 739,795 | 31 |
| 2 | Maine | $66,038 | $43,000 | 1,335,907 | 9 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $63,134 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 68 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $60,666 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 11 |
| 5 | California | $66,207 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 227 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $60,003 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 17 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $62,812 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 2 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $60,737 | $38,000 | 12,805,537 | 26 |
| 9 | Utah | $61,927 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 5 |
| 10 | Oregon | $60,598 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 14 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $63,231 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 2 |
| 12 | Missouri | $59,084 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 27 |
| 13 | Idaho | $58,641 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 10 |
| 14 | Vermont | $62,574 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 1 |
| 15 | New York | $61,979 | $39,000 | 19,849,399 | 33 |
| 16 | Montana | $57,281 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 13 |
| 17 | Ohio | $61,282 | $39,000 | 11,658,609 | 13 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $58,156 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 6 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $54,562 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 6 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $61,665 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 4 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $55,379 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 3 |
| 22 | Nevada | $55,012 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 10 |
| 23 | Colorado | $57,478 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 26 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $55,893 | $36,000 | 4,454,189 | 7 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $53,584 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 16 |
| 26 | Washington | $57,075 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 20 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $61,435 | $38,000 | 9,005,644 | 5 |
| 28 | Virginia | $56,338 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 41 |
| 29 | Delaware | $57,103 | $35,000 | 961,939 | 3 |
| 30 | Maryland | $55,184 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 43 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $49,081 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 6 |
| 32 | Indiana | $52,164 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 10 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $54,118 | $33,000 | 4,684,333 | 4 |
| 34 | Texas | $51,608 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 38 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $54,318 | $34,000 | 693,972 | 4 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $46,414 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 38 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $44,330 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 14 |
| 38 | Arizona | $50,681 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 11 |
| 39 | Illinois | $48,834 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 19 |
| 40 | Alabama | $45,415 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 11 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $49,143 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 10 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $47,105 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 4 |
| 43 | Iowa | $47,632 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 3 |
| 44 | Georgia | $36,491 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 26 |
| 45 | Kansas | $46,438 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 2 |
| 46 | Michigan | $43,593 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 10 |
| 47 | Florida | $40,586 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 25 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $42,195 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 12 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $32,938 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 7 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $37,062 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 5 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $37,150 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 2 |
Highest paying states for fish and wildlife biologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Fish And Wildlife Biologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $70,225 |
| 2 | Maine | $66,038 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $63,134 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $60,666 |
| 5 | California | $66,207 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $60,003 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $62,812 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $60,737 |
| 9 | Utah | $61,927 |
| 10 | Oregon | $60,598 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $63,231 |
| 12 | Missouri | $59,084 |
| 13 | Idaho | $58,641 |
| 14 | Vermont | $62,574 |
| 15 | New York | $61,979 |
| 16 | Montana | $57,281 |
| 17 | Ohio | $61,282 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $58,156 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $54,562 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $61,665 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $55,379 |
| 22 | Nevada | $55,012 |
| 23 | Colorado | $57,478 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $55,893 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $53,584 |
| 26 | Washington | $57,075 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $61,435 |
| 28 | Virginia | $56,338 |
| 29 | Delaware | $57,103 |
| 30 | Maryland | $55,184 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $49,081 |
| 32 | Indiana | $52,164 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $54,118 |
| 34 | Texas | $51,608 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $54,318 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $46,414 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $44,330 |
| 38 | Arizona | $50,681 |
| 39 | Illinois | $48,834 |
| 40 | Alabama | $45,415 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $49,143 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $47,105 |
| 43 | Iowa | $47,632 |
| 44 | Georgia | $36,491 |
| 45 | Kansas | $46,438 |
| 46 | Michigan | $43,593 |
| 47 | Florida | $40,586 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $42,195 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $32,938 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $37,062 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $37,150 |
Expert opinions on the best states for fish and wildlife biologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for fish and wildlife biologists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ashley Mattison
Lead Biology Instructor, OSU-Oklahoma City
Most urban areas have a demand for students with a background in biology. These students provide support for healthcare, agriculture, and general research. Graduates are always needed to research cures for new and enduring diseases and research the next pandemic. Particular industries, such as forestry, are now hiring biology graduates to assess environmental impacts and assist in rehabilitation efforts. More financial decisions are being made with an ecological focus, impacting many fields, especially biological science. Politically, environmental policies are now more seriously considered and will require the input of physical science graduates.
Fish and wildlife biologist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025