SOC 19-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists — Fort Collins
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Fort Collins, CO comes to $84,240 a year, ahead of the national median of $76,780 by 9.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Fort Collins, CO comes to $84,240 a year, ahead of the national median of $76,780 by 9.7%. Pay ranges from under $57,210 at the tenth percentile to more than $129,690 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $69,370 to $110,790.
Employment stands at 140, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Grand Junction records the highest median at $84,360. Of the 423 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 113th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,210 | −25.5% |
| 25th | $69,370 | −9.7% |
| Median (50th) | $84,240 | +9.7% |
| 75th | $110,790 | +44.3% |
| 90th | $129,690 | +68.9% |
| Mean | $90,890 | +18.4% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Junction | $84,360 | 30 | |
| 2 | Boulder | $83,300 | 130 | |
| 3 | Denver | $80,540 | 160 | |
| 4 | Colorado Springs | $72,860 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fort Collins run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $84,240 buys what $81,707 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,240as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$81,707US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,240 a year, 9.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,210 to $129,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Grand Junction, at $84,360.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Fort Collins, CO?
The median annual wage is $84,240, or $40.50 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $76,780, so pay in Fort Collins, CO is 9.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Fort Collins, CO earns more than $129,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,210 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Grand Junction, at $84,360 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Fort Collins, CO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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