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Job outlook for wildlife health specialists in the United States
Are wildlife health specialist jobs in demand?
Wildlife health specialist job and salary trends over time
Wildlife health specialist jobs over time
Wildlife health specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 794 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 857 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 959 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 890 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 882 | 0.00% |
Average wildlife health specialist salary over time
Wildlife health specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,267 | $21.28 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $42,212 | $20.29 | --0.2% |
| 2023 | $42,312 | $20.34 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $41,558 | $19.98 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $40,377 | $19.41 | +1.4% |
Wildlife health specialist jobs by state
Most common states for wildlife health specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 133 | 19% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 106 | 17% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 760 | 14% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 887 | 13% |
| 5 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 852 | 13% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 613 | 11% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 562 | 11% |
| 8 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 341 | 11% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 182 | 11% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 64 | 11% |
| 11 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,125 | 10% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,020 | 10% |
| 13 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 687 | 10% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 670 | 10% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 592 | 10% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 312 | 10% |
| 17 | Delaware | 961,939 | 92 | 10% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 75 | 10% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 554 | 9% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 79 | 9% |
Most common cities for wildlife health specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Escondido | 1 | 1% | $51,990 |
Wildlife Health Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of wildlife health specialist experts
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
University of Rhode Island
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
North Carolina State University
The Wildlife Society
Idaho State University
Hawai'i Pacific University
What general advice would you give to a Wildlife Health Specialist?
Amy Welsh Ph.D.: I think people like the freedom that the job enables. Many biologists have flexibility with scheduling. In addition, when they are at work they are doing something that really interests them anyway. Wildlife professionals aren't paid as much as some other professions so that would be a negative but there are trade offs that are rewarding.
What Wildlife Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amy Welsh Ph.D.: Funding is very good for wildlife management in America. There are many different kinds of specific jobs someone can find depending on their interests (how much they want to work inside vs. outside, do they want to supervise, do they want to be a project leader, etc.)
Scott Henke PhD
Regents ProfessorTexas A&M University - Kingsville
Wildlife And Wildlands Science And Management
What Wildlife Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Scott Henke PhD: This answer will age me, but I think today’s generation relies too heavily on technology. Old school ‘hands-on’ training is becoming a lost art. New students, for the most part, seem to have spent little time outdoors and do not seem capable of recognizing animal signs (i.e. tracks, scat, feather, scraps, dens, fur, etc.). I think some of these “lost art” skills will be needed, and up-and-coming students who have such skills will be sought by agencies.
People skills will always be needed. Most kids get into wildlife management because they desire to work with animals, but quickly find out that much of wildlife jobs entail dealing with people. Being able to converse with kids to adults, from lay people to businessmen to scientists is always useful Get as much experience with people as you can. It will pay off. As a student, volunteer to give presentations to school classes, to Rotary Clubs, to Garden Clubs, and give scientific presentations at science-based conferences.
Also, learn how to identify plants. Plants are often thought of as the boring part for wildlife students; however, plants are habitat. Much of wildlife management is habitat management. Do not lessen the importance of this skill.
What will help Wildlife Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Scott Henke PhD: The trend in the wildlife field is to seek employees with higher degrees (i.e., MS degrees +), especially when seeking middle management or higher levels (research type job) or supervisory level positions. Therefore to ensure your competitiveness as you develop in your career, seek at least a MS level education. True story: I had a student (let’s call him Bill) who was not interested in a higher education nor did he take his coursework during his BS degree too seriously. Bill graduated from our wildlife program with a satisfactory GPA (~2.75, which is a C+ level). Not stellar, but good to graduate. Bill interviewed well and got a job with the state wildlife agency. After a year of working Bill was asked to train a new employee (who had a MS degree). That new employee eventually became Bill’s boss because the new employee held an advanced degree. Again, Bill was asked to train another student (again with a MS degree) and the same outcome happened again. This time Bill decided to never let it happen again and he desired to earn a MS degree. Unfortunately, Bill’s GPA from his BS degree (2.75) was insufficient to get accepted into a graduate level program. Bill is most likely as high a level as possible in his career, even though he is at best considered mid-career. The moral of this story is to make sure you do as well as possible in your BS program. Stay in school and retake classes if you must, but do not graduate with a BS degree unless you have at least a 3.0 GPA (3.25+ is better). You may not have a desire to ever get a graduate degree (MS or PhD); however, if the opportunity arises or if your job situation changes where a higher degree is needed, at least that door is still available to you. Look at your life in the long-term. Graduate school may not be desired NOW, but it may become necessary or desirable later. Don’t close that door on yourself by the age of 20. That’s too young to make a decision that could affect the rest of your life.
Dr. Scott McWilliams Ph.D.
ProfessorUniversity of Rhode Island
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What general advice would you give to a Wildlife Health Specialist?
Dr. Scott McWilliams Ph.D.: Some skill sets are always essential - be a good communicator (oral and written) because these are common to all vocations in the environmental science fields. Otherwise, have a good understanding of the scientific method, critical and creative thinking skills, and as many directly applicable skills for your chosen field within environmental sciences. For example, if you want to be a wildlife ecologist then you better understand field skills related to how to estimate abundance and distribution of wild animals.
What Wildlife Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Scott McWilliams Ph.D.: What will separate you from other applicants (and ensure you maximize your salary potential) is excellence in the classroom (i.e., good grades) and most importantly your outside-of-classroom set of experiences. How much fieldwork and lab work have you done, what projects have you been involved with, what internships have you done.
What will help Wildlife Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Scott McWilliams Ph.D.: Make sure you take courses that teach you applied, field-applicable skills, and most importantly take advantage of experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom - in short, do internships and get involved in field research in environmental sciences and wildlife ecology and management.
Abe Woodard
Ph.D. Candidate - Wildlife Science, Research Scientis, East FoundationTexas A&M University - Kingsville
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
What skills will help Wildlife Health Specialists earn the most?
Abe Woodard: Beyond the amount of experience (years and diversity), soft skills help you earn the most when you first enter the job market.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Wildlife Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Lara Pacifici Ph.D.: Strong communication skills, whether remote or in-person, are more important than ever. The ability to lead video conferences used to be an added bonus, but now it is a necessity. In the future, internships and volunteering for research projects will be more important. Additionally, membership and involvement in professional societies and student clubs will demonstrate a holistic commitment.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Wildlife Health Specialists to find work opportunities?
Lara Pacifici Ph.D.: Wildlife conservation opportunities exist throughout the United States. The most successful candidates are willing to go anywhere and experience new things. Employment opportunities exist with local, state, and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and private organizations.
How do you envision technology impacting Wildlife Health Specialists in the next 5 years?
Jamila Blake: Technology is a vital aspect of the wildlife field, and it will only continue to become more integrated into the work of professionals over the next five years. Emerging technologies will enhance professionals' abilities to monitor and protect species, conduct genetics research, and reduce wildlife diseases. Use of tools like live cams, genetic engineering techniques, GIS, artificial intelligence, and bioacoustics technology will enable efficient and effective contributions to wildlife management and conservation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Wildlife Health Specialists?
Jamila Blake: Impacts of the coronavirus will definitely be seen in the lack of opportunities for in-person interactions, training, and work opportunities, but it is certainly not all bad. While students may have been hoping to gain some field experience, remote or modified positions have been developed, and a number of online learning opportunities have been enhanced to continue students' skill-building. Many organizations have been able to adapt to virtual workplaces, events, and professional development offerings - such as conferences, workshops, mentorship connections, and networking events. This year of adjusting and learning will likely enable the wildlife field to be more flexible with remote working options.
What experience really stands out on Wildlife Health Specialist resumes?
Joshua Thompson: In my opinion, the best experiences that stand out on a resume are first, the internship, and second, any extra-curricular activities the student is involved in. Students can provide additional information during an interview from their experiences in an internship. Student involvement shows other initiatives and potential self-motivation, which are positives for any employer.
In the current environment we are in, having any understanding and experience in the field, even as someone who is in their first professional employment opportunity, and not just a desire but a propensity to not only show up but complete tasks to better themselves, will provide value to the organization, and in turn, potentially separate the new employee from their peers.
Halaevalu Ofahengaue Vakalahi
Dean and ProfessorHawai'i Pacific University
College of Health & Society
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Wildlife Health Specialists to find work opportunities?
Halaevalu Ofahengaue Vakalahi: The aftermath of COVID, and the recovery phase, will yield increased employment opportunities in social work across the country and the globe. Social work is a rich and broad field, as our curriculum educates students in practice, policy, research, theory, and the signature pedagogy of field education/practicum. You can't go wrong with that span of the knowledge base. It is a versatile degree for any career of interest.