Wildlife technician vs wildlife biologist

The differences between wildlife technicians and wildlife biologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a wildlife technician, becoming a wildlife biologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a wildlife biologist has an average salary of $51,084, which is higher than the $33,462 average annual salary of a wildlife technician.

The top three skills for a wildlife technician include GPS, hand tools and harvest. The most important skills for a wildlife biologist are USDA, wildlife species, and GIS.

Wildlife technician vs wildlife biologist overview

	Wildlife Technician	Wildlife Biologist
Yearly salary	$33,462	$51,084
Hourly rate	$16.09	$24.56
Growth rate	9%	1%
Number of jobs	9,809	5,376
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	2

What does a wildlife technician do?

A wildlife technician is responsible for supporting wildlife biologists and management personnel on conducting research projects for habitat preservation and environmental welfare. Wildlife technicians create data reports, assist in laboratory examinations, collect biological samples, and maintaining the safety and security of the premises by observing surveillance equipment and adhering to safety policies and protocols. They also operate and inspect the efficiency of tools and equipment, provide routine maintenance, and request immediate repairs as necessary. A wildlife technician helps in planning wildlife programs and managing information dissemination to the public.

What does a wildlife biologist do?

A wildlife biologist specializes in studying and observing animals and plants in their habitats, mainly for research and scientific purposes. Their responsibilities typically revolve around gathering samples and data, performing analysis through various laboratory and scientific processes, conducting experiments, and creating reports and presentations. A wildlife biologist may use their findings to develop programs and strategies, release research papers, contribute to publications, and promote public awareness. Furthermore, a wildlife biologist may coordinate with other scientists, reviewing findings for accurate reports.

Wildlife technician vs wildlife biologist salary

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

	Wildlife Technician	Wildlife Biologist
Average salary	$33,462	$51,084
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $44,000	Between $34,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City	Springfield, MA	Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	Alaska
Best paying company	Boulder County	Idaho National Lab
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Technology

Differences between wildlife technician and wildlife biologist education

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

	Wildlife Technician	Wildlife Biologist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	Duke University	University of California - Davis

Wildlife technician vs wildlife biologist demographics

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

	Wildlife Technician	Wildlife Biologist
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 66.5% Female, 33.5%	Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 10.1% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%	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	6%	10%

Differences between wildlife technician and wildlife biologist duties and responsibilities

Wildlife technician example responsibilities.

Lead fish exclusion and relocation efforts, using backpack electro fishing gear.
Research new techniques to properly manage invasive species such a common carp.
Perform automated DNA and RNA extraction of clinical specimens.
Collect and process biological samples for epidemiology PCR and RT-PCR studies.
Work with other volunteers and sometimes independently to search for, identify and record GPS coordinates of invasive plant species.
Extract nematode specimens from soil samples, remount old nematode slides, and enter vital information into USDA nematode collection database.

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.

Wildlife technician vs wildlife biologist skills

Common wildlife technician skills

GPS, 9%
Hand Tools, 8%
Harvest, 7%
Data Entry, 6%
Wildlife Habitat, 6%
GRASS, 5%

Common wildlife biologist skills

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

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Wildlife Technician
Wildlife Technician vs Wildlife Biologist

Updated January 8, 2025

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