Part One: Becoming a Zoologist

In the future, I would like to become a zoologist. A zoologist is someone who researches and studies exotic animals. The study of zoology is a branch of biology that studies animals of different species. There are a variety of different types of zoologists. Some of them include the study of mammals (mammalogy), ornithology (birds), ichthyology (fish), herpetology (reptiles), and entomology (insects).

Some of the work involved with zoology is researching and teaching. Zoologists can teach at universities and colleges where they must adapt to public speaking to inspire their students to study zoology. Other zoologists can work in zoos and museums informing the public about exotic animals.


The average salary for zoologists is between $ 55, 000 and $ 70,000 a year. Depending on the type of position the zoologist has and based on their education, they can make under $ 30,00 or up to $ 100,000 a year. Zoologists with a bachelor's degree earn the lowest salaries, while those who have a master's degree can be significantly higher.

If a zoologist has their PhD, they could own a zoo, or obtain a research position at a university. University professors can make anywhere between $ 40,000 to $ 140, 000 a year. As a univeristy professor, a zoologist's opportunities for career advancement depend on their level of success as a researcher.

LEVEL 1 Field Researcher
EARNINGS $30,000 to $35,000 a year
REQUIREMENTS • Bachelor’s degree in biology or zoology
RESPONSIBILITIES Conducting experiments; gathering data in the field; working under the supervision of a scientist.


LEVEL 2 Assistant Scientist
EARNINGS $35,000 to $55,000 a year
REQUIREMENTS • Master’s degree in zoology (PhD preferred)
• Experience doing field research
RESPONSIBILITIES Working in a lab or in the field; observing animals; conducting research; analyzing results; writing up the results of the research.


LEVEL 3 Full Scientist
EARNINGS $55,000 to $100,000 a year
REQUIREMENTS • PhD in zoology
• Many years of experience doing research
RESPONSIBILITIES Observing animals; running experiments; analyzing results; writing grant applications and articles.


Net Paycheck Estimate
$ 1,793.60

Bi-weekly Gross Pay
$ 2,427.64

Federal Withholding
$ 448.33

Scial Security
$ 150.51

Medicare
$ 35.20