How to hire a fish and wildlife biologist

How to hire a fish and wildlife biologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step fish and wildlife biologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a fish and wildlife biologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new fish and wildlife biologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a fish and wildlife biologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the fish and wildlife biologist you need to hire. Certain fish and wildlife biologist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a fish and wildlife biologist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a fish and wildlife biologist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of fish and wildlife biologists.

   Type of Fish And Wildlife Biologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Fish And Wildlife Biologist	Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals and other wildlife and how they interact with their ecosystems. They study the physical characteristics of animals, animal behaviors, and the impacts humans have on wildlife and natural habitats... Show more	$16-38
   Ecologist	An ecologist is responsible for studying the ecosystem components and the interaction between humans and nature. Ecologists analyze the organisms' roles within an environment to identify solutions in solving nature issues and environmental concerns... Show more	$15-36
   Biologist	A biologist is a specialized scientist focusing on studying living organisms and their relationship to the existing ecosystem. Biologists spend lots of time doing research and validating theories to support the complexity of the living matter... Show more	$22-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Species ACT
   • Natural Resources
   • Water ACT
   • Environmental Policy
   • Harvest
   • Data Collection
   • FWS
   • ESA
   • Provide Technical Assistance
   • Federal Agencies
   • Fish Species
   • Fish Habitat
   • GPS
   • Technical Assistance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all aspects of range finding, testing and data assembly for GLP laboratory contract for state and federal pesticide regulation.
   • Create and manage multidisciplinary, interagency research teams.
   • Work for EPA government contractor.
   • Experience using Garmin Trimble units, Garmin hand hold GPS units.
   • Organize and run GIS committee to review GIS current and future uses with observer data.
   • Organize and participate in elk population helicopter survey, utilizing census data to determine big game harvest values for upper management.

   More fish and wildlife biologist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your fish and wildlife biologist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A fish and wildlife biologist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, fish and wildlife biologists' average salary in south carolina is 53% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level fish and wildlife biologists 58% less than senior-level fish and wildlife biologists.
   • Certifications. A fish and wildlife biologist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a fish and wildlife biologist's salary.

   Average fish and wildlife biologist salary

   $52,402yearly

   $25.19 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level fish and wildlife biologist salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average fish and wildlife biologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$73,326	$35
   2	Nebraska	$60,105	$29
   3	Virginia	$58,604	$28
   4	Washington	$58,418	$28
   5	Montana	$58,032	$28
   6	New Mexico	$53,765	$26
   7	Minnesota	$49,060	$24

   Average fish and wildlife biologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bureau of Ocean Energy Management	$80,403	$38.66
   2	Forest Manufacturing Co	$69,566	$33.45
   3	United States Army Corps of Engineers	$64,190	$30.86
   4	Washington State University	$50,822	$24.43
   5	The State of Oregon	$47,482	$22.83	2
   6	Indiana State Police	$32,798	$15.77	1

4. Writing a fish and wildlife biologist job description

   A fish and wildlife biologist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a fish and wildlife biologist job description:

   Fish and wildlife biologist job description example

   Kleinschmidt has a full-time opening for a Fish Biologist to participate in a diverse array of aquatic resource projects in or around our Redmond, WA or Vancouver, WA office. Our flexibility and core value of relationships allows us to offer employees the opportunity to work in an office, or remotely, based on their personal needs. We understand the concerns with COVID-19 and have policies in place to help keep our employees safe.
   Who You Are
   
   A Fish Biologist with an MS in Fisheries, ecology, or a related field and a minimum of 5 years of experience working with and studying native fish species within the Pacific Northwest.
   
   Knowledgeable: Working knowledge of diadromous fish species ecology, life history and species differentiation. Understanding of biotelemetry techniques and applications. Familiarity with hydroelectric facilities and impacts to fish. Competency in scientific writing and data analysis. Proficient with MS Office Suite include Excel and Access. Knowledge of GIS, coding/R and habitat or population modeling skills are beneficial. Familiarity with project management processes.
   
   Experienced: Experience working in and around rivers within the Pacific Northwest. Previous experience conducting field work with juvenile and adult salmon. Comfort handling and working from boats, kayaking, and wading in moving water. Experience with other native fish and aquatic species including, bull trout, lamprey, sucker, freshwater mussels, etc.
   
   Dedicated: Willingness to travel for work throughout the US and Canada. Ability to work independently without supervision but also integrate well as part of a team. Ability to work flexible hours in varied weather conditions and environments required.
   
   Additional Requirements
   
   * Must possess permanent authorization to work in the United States and able to acquire authorization to work in Canada
   * Must be willing to travel and possess a valid driver's license
   
   About the Position
   
   This position provides an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic applicant looking to further their career by using their experience and technical knowledge to collaborate with our team of scientists, engineers, and regulatory professionals on a range of studies focused on fish behavior, populations and habitats, water quality, wetlands, and wildlife. Specific duties for this position will include:
   
   * Conducting aquatic habitat surveys including salmon spawning surveys,
   * Conducting fish sampling, including fish handling, electrofishing, trapping and netting techniques, visual estimation techniques (e.g., snorkeling),
   * Supporting flow habitat assessments including physical habitat surveys and discharge and water quality measurements,
   * Supporting fish telemetry, fish tagging, and behavior studies,
   * Conducting comprehensive data collection, management, and QAQC
   * Providing routine field data collection summaries,
   * Developing report materials including tables, figures, text,
   * Assisting with field work logistics, including schedule coordination, purchasing of equipment and supplies.
   
   Who We Are
   
   Kleinschmidt is one of the few employee-owned consulting firms in North America specializing in hydropower and we have been doing it for more than 50 years. We focus on developing engineering, regulatory, and environmental solutions that benefit our clients by lowering cost, shortening schedules, and improving regulatory relationships.
   
   Our people are passionate, engaged, and enjoy learning from one another while working on unique and creative projects. Technical excellence is at the heart of our continued success, and we strongly encourage learning and continuous improvement to create professional growth and new opportunities for our employees.
   
   Benefits
   
   * Competitive salary
   * Bonus Program - Annual and quarterly
   * Comprehensive medical/dental/vision package
   * 401(k) with 4% match employer match and 100% immediate vesting
   * 10 Floating Holidays
   * Paid Time Off
   * Short-Term Disability
   * Paid Parental Leave
   * Tuition Assistance
   * Employee Ownership
   
   Kleinschmidt is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Our company policy and culture provide equal opportunity to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender status, disability status, national origin, veteran status, and all other dimensions of diversity.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right fish and wildlife biologist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with fish and wildlife biologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit fish and wildlife biologists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your fish and wildlife biologist job on Zippia to find and recruit fish and wildlife biologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting fish and wildlife biologists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new fish and wildlife biologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect fish and wildlife biologist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new fish and wildlife biologist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a fish and wildlife biologist?