Resource biologist vs wildlife biologist

The differences between resource biologists and wildlife biologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a resource biologist, becoming a wildlife biologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a resource biologist has an average salary of $55,582, which is higher than the $51,084 average annual salary of a wildlife biologist.

The top three skills for a resource biologist include GIS, water quality and GPS. The most important skills for a wildlife biologist are USDA, wildlife species, and GIS.

Resource biologist vs wildlife biologist overview

	Resource Biologist	Wildlife Biologist
Yearly salary	$55,582	$51,084
Hourly rate	$26.72	$24.56
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	8,041	5,376
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 90%	Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	8	2

Resource biologist vs wildlife biologist salary

Resource biologists and wildlife biologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Resource Biologist	Wildlife Biologist
Average salary	$55,582	$51,084
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $87,000	Between $34,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City	-	Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Idaho National Lab
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between resource biologist and wildlife biologist education

There are a few differences between a resource biologist and a wildlife biologist in terms of educational background:

	Resource Biologist	Wildlife Biologist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 90%	Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	University of California, Berkeley	University of California - Davis

Resource biologist vs wildlife biologist demographics

Here are the differences between resource biologists' and wildlife biologists' demographics:

	Resource Biologist	Wildlife Biologist
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 58.8% Female, 41.2%	Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% Asian, 11.1% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between resource biologist and wildlife biologist duties and responsibilities

Resource biologist example responsibilities.

Manage detailed GLP laboratory manual daily.
Analyze MBSS ecological data against other GIS data sets, e.g., calculate land use/ land cover for all MBSS sites.
Gather GIS data, photographs and compile daily reports of field observations make while working with and advising cleanup crews.
Project require review of existing environmental data, identification of permitting requirements, wetland identification/delineation and sensitive and endanger species issues.
Implement multiple assays to assess plasma biomarkers to support decision-making studies of hypertension benchmark compounds and RAAS pathway new targets.

Wildlife biologist example responsibilities.

Utilize ArcGIS to create navigational maps, as well as uploading, managing and analyzing data for habitat suitability.
Create and manage multidisciplinary, interagency research teams.
Perform nuisance wildlife removal for animals such as squirrels, bats, raccoons, opossums, snakes, and skunks.
Complete regulatory compliance and permitting documentation for projects requiring ESA consultations including preparation of biological opinions.
Assist with prescribe burns on DNR land.
Supervise and participate in the annual raptor nest survey.

Resource biologist vs wildlife biologist skills

Common resource biologist skills

GIS, 34%
Water Quality, 23%
GPS, 13%
Species Surveys, 13%
Biological Data, 11%
Boats, 7%

Common wildlife biologist skills

USDA, 13%
Wildlife Species, 9%
GIS, 7%
Harvest, 6%
GPS, 5%
Natural Resources, 5%

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Resource Biologist
Resource Biologist vs Wildlife Biologist

Updated January 8, 2025

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