Kentucky Median
$61,950
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.78
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-19% vs US median
US median $76,780
State Rank
#43 of 47
150 employed here
How much do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make in Kentucky?
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $61,950 per year, or about $29.78 per hour. That is 19% below the national median of $76,780 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $46,960 while the top 10% make $83,040 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,680 and $75,780 a year.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,960 | $22.58 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $51,680 | $24.85 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,950 | $29.78 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $75,780 | $36.43 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,040 | $39.92 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 43rd out of 47 states and territories for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary in other states
Maryland $107,500District of Columbia $107,050California $98,530Alaska $90,370Mississippi $88,710Louisiana $87,460Oregon $85,150Hawaii $84,910Massachusetts $84,350Washington $83,780Colorado $83,300New Jersey $83,030Iowa $83,000New York $82,640North Dakota $81,330Illinois $79,780Vermont $79,620Michigan $79,150Montana $78,850Pennsylvania $78,540Connecticut $77,300Missouri $76,400Nevada $75,180Ohio $74,550Maine $74,490Alabama $74,290Wyoming $74,150Utah $73,920Tennessee $73,570New Hampshire $73,560Idaho $73,360Virginia $72,340Minnesota $68,620Wisconsin $68,370New Mexico $68,220Arizona $66,880Kansas $66,440Georgia $66,210South Dakota $65,890North Carolina $64,620South Carolina $64,090Oklahoma $62,730Nebraska $57,890Indiana $54,670Florida $52,750Texas $49,100
Working as Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Kentucky
Nationally, about 18,000 people work as Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($61,950) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make in Kentucky?
The median Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary in Kentucky is $61,950 per year, or about $29.78 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,960 at the entry level to $83,040 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists about 19% less than the national median of $76,780. Kentucky ranks 43rd out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $61,950 a year. About 150 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary report
Related salaries
$61,990
median pay · 31,000 employed
$90,150
median pay · 141,000 employed
$103,410
median pay · 172,000 employed
$57,510
median pay · 70,000 employed
$64,790
median pay · 3,000 employed
$72,060
median pay · 19,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.