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Staff biologist salary
Average staff biologist salary
$65,292
Average Staff Biologist Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Staff Biologist is $65,292 annually. This figure varies significantly based on geographic location and years of experience. For instance, entry-level positions may start around $50,000, while experienced professionals can earn upwards of $80,000. Factors influencing these differences include local demand for biologists, cost of living, and specific industry sectors such as environmental consulting or academia.
Where Can a Staff Biologist Earn More?
Geographically, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries compared to the national average. Urban areas with a strong emphasis on environmental research and conservation also provide competitive salaries. In addition to location, specialization plays a vital role; biologists focused on marine or wildlife conservation often command higher pay. For those considering this career path, understanding the regional salary trends can aid in making informed career decisions.
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Where can a Staff Biologist earn more?
Average staff biologist salary by state
The highest-paying states for staff biologists are Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Utah. The lowest average staff biologist salary states are Louisiana, Tennessee, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for staff biologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $78,037 | $37.52 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $75,200 | $36.15 |
| 3 | Utah | $77,948 | $37.48 |
| 4 | Nevada | $74,048 | $35.60 |
| 5 | Oregon | $73,941 | $35.55 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $74,310 | $35.73 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $72,663 | $34.93 |
| 8 | Alaska | $84,535 | $40.64 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $74,742 | $35.93 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $74,734 | $35.93 |
| 11 | Washington | $72,287 | $34.75 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $76,721 | $36.89 |
| 13 | New York | $73,444 | $35.31 |
| 14 | Vermont | $70,846 | $34.06 |
| 15 | Maine | $67,133 | $32.28 |
| 16 | Montana | $69,091 | $33.22 |
| 17 | California | $69,411 | $33.37 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $75,202 | $36.15 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $71,176 | $34.22 |
| 20 | Delaware | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $68,946 | $33.15 |
| 22 | Indiana | $64,887 | $31.20 |
| 23 | Arizona | $63,739 | $30.64 |
| 24 | Georgia | $65,485 | $31.48 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $67,199 | $32.31 |
| 26 | Illinois | $61,688 | $29.66 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $62,791 | $30.19 |
| 28 | Idaho | $64,847 | $31.18 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $62,910 | $30.25 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $62,146 | $29.88 |
| 31 | Maryland | $62,316 | $29.96 |
| 32 | Michigan | $61,680 | $29.65 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $62,137 | $29.87 |
| 34 | Virginia | $64,402 | $30.96 |
| 35 | Alabama | $56,369 | $27.10 |
| 36 | Ohio | $55,966 | $26.91 |
| 37 | Iowa | $59,516 | $28.61 |
| 38 | Colorado | $59,850 | $28.77 |
| 39 | Kansas | $58,137 | $27.95 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $58,647 | $28.20 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $59,232 | $28.48 |
| 42 | Texas | $56,449 | $27.14 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $53,315 | $25.63 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $56,457 | $27.14 |
| 45 | Missouri | $52,613 | $25.29 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $53,906 | $25.92 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $53,180 | $25.57 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $55,192 | $26.53 |
| 49 | Florida | $50,928 | $24.48 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $50,044 | $24.06 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $49,189 | $23.65 |
Highest paying cities for staff biologists
The highest-paying cities for staff biologists are Rahway, NJ, Tacoma, WA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rahway, NJ | $74,387 | $35.76 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $73,388 | $35.28 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $73,080 | $35.13 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $72,726 | $34.96 |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $71,502 | $34.38 |
| 6 | Nampa, ID | $66,651 | $32.04 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $62,808 | $30.20 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $62,005 | $29.81 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $59,807 | $28.75 |
| 10 | Arlington, TX | $56,805 | $27.31 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | $56,606 | $27.21 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $54,086 | $26.00 |
| 13 | New Orleans, LA | $52,866 | $25.42 |
Staff biologist salary details
A staff biologist's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $93,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a staff biologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $65,292 | $5,441 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying staff biologist jobs
The highest paying types of staff biologists are molecular biologist, aquatic scientist, and mycologist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computational Biologist | $61,449 | $5,121 | $29.54 | 12,839 |
| Molecular Biologist | $73,763 | $6,147 | $35.46 | 22,019 |
| Research Biologist | $69,719 | $5,810 | $33.52 | 52,799 |
| Cell Biologist | $68,698 | $5,725 | $33.03 | 24,079 |
| Biologist | $65,158 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 5,741 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for staff biologists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Howard Whiteman
Professor of Biological Sciences, Director of the Watershed Studies Institute, Murray State University
Top companies hiring staff biologists now:
Which companies pay staff biologists the most?
Staff biologist salaries at Merck and Burns & McDonnell are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average staff biologist salary at companies like M.I.T. International, Inc. and Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merck | $80,991 | $38.94 |
| 2 | Burns & McDonnell | $76,395 | $36.73 |
| 3 | M.I.T. International, Inc. | $69,966 | $33.64 |
| 4 | Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza | $69,482 | $33.40 |
| 5 | TRC Companies | $66,526 | $31.98 |
| 6 | SWCA Environmental Consultants | $64,643 | $31.08 |
| 7 | Texas A&M Foundation | $61,497 | $29.57 |
| 8 | NOVAworks | $60,662 | $29.16 |
| 9 | Henry Ford Health System | $59,593 | $28.65 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Staff biologist salary trends
The average staff biologist salary has risen by $11,192 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average staff biologist earned $54,100 annually, but today, they earn $65,292 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for staff biologists over the last decade.
Compare staff biologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average staff biologist salary over time
Compare staff biologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Staff biologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $65,300 | $31.39 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $62,400 | $30.02 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $60,800 | $29.25 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $58,800 | $28.27 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $56,400 | $27.12 | -0.5% |
Recently added staff biologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swca Inc. | Staff Biologist | Las Vegas, NV | 06/24/2025 | $49,921 |
| TRC Companies, Inc. | Staff Biologist/Wetland Scientist | Raleigh, NC | 05/26/2025 | $55,016 |
| Swca Inc. | Staff Level Biologist-Desktop (Emergencies)-Temporary | Pasadena, CA | 05/21/2025 | $50,067 |
| Swca Inc. | Assistant Staff Biologist-Shorebird Monitor | New York, NY | 05/15/2025 | $44,495 |
| Swca Inc. | Staff Biologist-Field Lead | Houston, TX | 05/07/2025 | $52,425 |
| Swca Inc. | Staff Level Biologist-Natural Resources (Temporary) | San Bernardino, CA | 04/23/2025 | $50,067 |
| TRC Companies, Inc. | Staff Biologist/Wetland Scientist | Raleigh, NC | 03/30/2025 | $55,016 |
| Swca Inc. | Staff Level Biologist-Natural Resources (Temporary) | Santa Cruz, CA | 03/27/2025 | $53,385 |
| Swca Inc. | Staff Biologist-Wetlands | Baton Rouge, LA | 03/27/2025 | $49,921 |
| Swca Inc. | Temporary Staff Biologist | Las Vegas, NV | 03/25/2025 | $49,921 |
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