SOC 19-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists — Tennessee
Tennessee · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Tennessee is $73,570 per year, close to the national median of $76,780 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Tennessee is $73,570 per year, close to the national median of $76,780 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $50,840 at the tenth percentile to more than $99,330 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,210 to $87,730.
Employment stands at 310, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 29th by median wage. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $79,440. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 202nd of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,840 | −33.8% |
| 25th | $59,210 | −22.9% |
| Median (50th) | $73,570 | −4.2% |
| 75th | $87,730 | +14.3% |
| 90th | $99,330 | +29.4% |
| Mean | $75,360 | −1.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $73,570 goes as far as $80,054 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$73,570as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,054US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,570 a year, 4.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,840 to $99,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 29th of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $79,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $73,570, or $35.37 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 Tennessee is 4.2% lower. 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 Tennessee earns more than $99,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,840 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 Nashville, at $79,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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