Wildlife Biologist

[Shaverdan]

I was an environmental science major in college. I met some guys at an alumni weekend party that all had the same degree and couldn't find jobs. One day I walked past a nursing class and saw 50+ females and 3 males and decided I wanted to be a nurse. I liked the job security and the fringe benefits. My advisor told me at the time I switched that I was selling my soul for financial security and I laughed. 11 years later I'm not so sure he was wrong. My life is pretty comfortable and I can pretty much move anywhere i want and get a job but man it's soul sucking.

That being said I was coming off the beach this summer and had some DNR guys take some samples and measuring my catch. They were chilling next to the ocean it looked so nice. I asked them what I have to do to have their job. The guy told me right away "Have a biology degree and be okay with making $12.00 an hour"

Anyway I say all this to make the point there are positives and negatives to whichever path you choose. One thing I will say though is this. Many people are coming out of college with a lot of debt and are feeling bitter, not me. College was the most fun I've ever had. I smile with every check that I send them.

 

[dieNqvrs]

I'm not dedicated to wildlife per se, but I have a BSc in Ecology, a Graduate Certificate in NEPA Planning, and finishing up my Masters in Natural Resource Management this semester.

I work full time as a habitat biologist, but mostly focus on fish. I had some pretty awesome jobs in my 20's, like one where I was on NOAA ships for 3-6 months a year diving throughout the Hawaii and South Pacific Islands doing reef fish surveys.

I'm now approaching 40, two kids, a wife, mortgage, etc......My current job has some field work, but I mostly push papers and attend meetings. If you want to get to the point of making a livable wage (i.e. over $50K), you'll wade through lots of field and technician jobs that are fun, but often seasonal and pay crap. Then you'll decide to get a Masters to get a manager job to make better wages or just so you can compete. The biggest reason I decided to get my Masters is because I was losing out on jobs from younger people with less experience but so many hiring managers value a MS nowadays.

If I had to do it over, I would have went into the medical field. But, if you're young, single, and like adventure it's a fun way to make a living in your 20's. I don't regret anything, loved all my old jobs, the travel, and field work. Just kind of wishing there was better pay and more job opportunity now that I'm at the mid-point of my career.

I'm seriously looking at getting into the private sector. Better pay, but time-off is less secure, longer hours, and benefits are usually less. After working in the public sector for so long, I'm not sure it's as great as many make it seem.

This was me to a T above as well. I really wish I went into medical school. I have a BS in wildlife Bio also. I spend several years pursuing it, but starving wages and competing with save the world trust fund hippies is hard to swallow. I had a lot of fun in MT and AK. Basically you have to have experience to get a job, but need a job to get experience. Was told I needed a masters degree for a better job. Had a masters degree lined up but decided the cost of school, loss of potential income I would make wasn't worth the opportunity cost. I Was in government for 5 years and then decided I needed something different. I switched gears went back to school and completed an online masters degree in industrial hygiene/ occupational safety while working full timeout govt. I make 2x-3x what I would have made with a masters degree in wildlife now. I have several friends still in the wildlife biologist field. They like what the do but pretty much starve financially in MT.

 

[oldgoat]

You should reach out to Clay Hayes, he's a biologist in either Idaho or Montana I can't remember, he also makes videos and selfbows, you can find him on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram etc. Here's link to his website

Twisted Stave - Traditional Archery, Bow Building Classes, Selfbows

 

[Tod osier]

Ok, so this is pretty random but I figured this wouldn't be a bad place to post.
I got out of the Army about a year and a half ago with the idea of going to school for a biology degree and knocking out premed reqs and then going on to med school. But this past 6 to 8 months, I've been looking more and more at wildlife biology, particularly in Alaska or Idaho (Alaska if I can convince my wife!)
Basically, I'm just wondering if any of you know/ are a wildlife biologist and can tell me what an actual day is like. The description on a lot of the different state websites sounds great (hiking around, collecting data on different animal populations, presenting it to help in establishing tag limits, dealing with nuisance animals, etc.) but I want to know if that is the day to day, or the once a year experience.
Again, kind of random but I figure this would be a good place to gain some perspective. Thanks!

You didn’t say what level degree you were thinking about in wildlife. Given that you were thinking MD in medicine, I was sort of thinking an advanced degree in wildlife management would have been your goal... I know no wildlife folks with advanced degrees, but know a lot of folks with related science PhDs in academics and federal agencies. Job satisfaction is high to very high and pay is good to very good. To get those jobs you have to not only get a PhD, but also be very good. These jobs are undoubtedly more office jobs than field jobs, but everyone I know that wants a field component has one. The combo of: satisfaction, ability to self direct your time, compensation, free time, security is tough to beat from what I have seen.

 

[Violent Hippie]

Very different careers. Did you work as a medic in the Army or have any T.C.C.C. / combat lifesaver type training ? If so did you enjoy or excel at that training ? My military medical training is how I knew that was what I was gonna do in some aspect when I got out. I've worked in the ER ever since ( 17 years) and am very happy with my career choice . If you like "medicine" in general there are many different options from working in OB/ delivering babies to Hyperbaric chamber tech etc. Very broad spectrum. If you have ideas of being an MD / DO then make that decision and get on it because its a long road and you can figure out your specialty / residency during the process. My good buddy who works in field medicine as a firefighter and I chuckle often after a shitty day ( EMS and ER have high BURNOUT and a "shitty" day can be REAL bad) at work and ask each other why we didnt become field botanist simply mumbling to yourself alone in the woods not having to talk to another soul all day. I dont know many guys who are in field bio specific jobs but the law enforcement angle ( pretty sure rokslide has some wardens on here) of working as a game warden in some states also requires wildlife bio / BS from what I understand. You didnt mention Law Enforcement but that seems like a mix of policing and bio maybe ?

 

[slick]

I also have a BS in Wildlife Management. First job I took I basically paid for that experience. But from there on out I’ve worked in 5 different states for the feds, state, and private. I have quite a few friends who have masters degrees and most if not all have been able to land a full time job.

You shouldn’t have to pay for grad school either- that money should be in the grant somewhere that funds the project. While also getting some sort of salary on top of it. While it’s not a bunch of money, for two years I think it’s worth going to graduate school. Everyone has different philosophies and experiences though.

Winter work is where I struggle. I have no problem landing seasonal 6-9mo long jobs through the summer. But the last couple winters I’ve had to pick up something else entirely. (big sky and now a brewery).

Also depends on how much you want to limit yourself. If you don’t mind working on lots of different things then opportunities are nearly endless. Whether it’s habitat improvement stuff, or researching survival rates there’s always something out there. It is highly competitive though.

If money is more your concern definitely head the MD route.

And as stated above the higher you go into the wildlife profession the more big decisions you need to make which means you’re behind a desk. But even the regional bios in MT make 50+ and are in the field lots. Especially doing surveys from when the hunting season is over until mid March or so.


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[Bear_Hunter]

A lot of good advice on the process to become a bio so far. Only a few things to add. Get a BS in Wildlife Biology, not environmental sci. And a Masters is a must to even be remotely competitive. Lastly go to schools in regions you’re interested in working in. I saw you mention Alaska. If you’re seriously considering that and have any questions, shoot me a pm.

If you’re curious what the current job market is like in cool states like Alaska or Idaho, do a search for current openings on usa jobs or the state websites. Currently, between those 2 states, and both state and federal government, there is one wildlife bio opening. It’s for the state of Alaska and it closes in 2 hours. After your BS and MS degree, plan on applying for what few jobs come up, being patient, and not getting discouraged.

For comparison, I did a quick search for nurse/medical related jobs for the state of Alaska and Idaho, and stopped counting at 30 current openings…

 

[S.Clancy]

Graduated with a degree in Organismal Biology and worked in Fisheries until last year. Like others have said, Masters is a entry level for non-tech positions. Universities are also graduating more MS and Phd students than there are jobs. If you pursue it, you really need to network, attend professional conferences, etc in order to get a foot in. I ended up leaving grad school and am currently getting an engineering degree. I loved my time doing that work, but it was time to move on. If you have any questions, PM me. I still have many contacts in that world (MT, WY mainly).

 

[Gumbo]

Masters is a requirement for a biologist job in MT (or the equivalent, which is a laundry list of criteria), and there are lots of people with a masters AND direct experience in most every job description. My advice is to begin specializing early on in specifically what you want to do/work with...i.e. wildlife, fisheries (warm or cold water). This way you get the experience you need to be competitive for positions. I have never had a job outside of MT, but I would imagine most agencies have similar requirements. Wise words from my supervisor were "If you like to hunt, go into fisheries, and if you like to fish, go into wildlife." I have a masters, but absolutely lucked into a dream position as an emergency hire by knowing the right person through taking any opportunity that came my way. In spite of having a masters, I would not have even been interviewed for the job because I didn't have the skill set. My point is that it is a very long road to a much less than certain future with limited pay and opportunity but good benefits, at least for a state employee. If I had it to do over again I would go a different route with what might be a less interesting career (health care?) but one that provided more opportunity and the ability to do what I love in my free time.

 

[S.Clancy]

I'm actually going to add on to my previous statement. If you are thinking you may want to pursue biology, but aren't sure, maybe double major with something else. I personally would have done biology and the engineering degree I'm doing now. Many benefits to this, mostly being the hard skills (think data management, analysis, etc) you get from an engineering (or math) degree will benefit you immensely if you choose to go the biology route. Fallback is you still have a fantastic career in engineering (or whatever) if you forego the Bio route. The downside being school may be very stressful sometimes, but in general with life, you get what you put in. Whatever you do, good luck and CRUSH IT!

 

[Gobspur]

B.S. and M.S in Fisheries Biology here. Masters is almost a must now in the wildlife/forestry/natural resource management profession. If money is your top priority, might head the MD route. However, with that said you can make good money in this profession it just depends on what you want to do. Think long term career goals...are you okay making a meager living and doing field work your whole career, or okay with progressing to more of a office/management level through your career to make more money. Speaking in GENERAL, in wildlife/natural resource profession you move up to more management/office work as you progress in career. Also think about and try to decide early on in you want to be more of a generalist or a specialist. Either can result in good careers and potential for more money, but I decided and found early on that being a generalist provides more opportunity.

I worked entry level biologist jobs for university and state for about 5 years after my masters, making $35-45K, doing mostly fun field work getting good hands on experience, everything from seagrass surveys, fish surveys, vegetative surveys, wetland/upland restoration, prescribed burning. Then I joined the Feds and work in the Regulatory Conservation realm. Been here 10 yrs now. I progressed from starting at $56K up to $90K now, and I'm not even a supervisory yet but lead a team. Did a lot of field work early on but have now moved to more office/management/policy work. Still get in the field 1-2 days/week (mostly summer). This is something I'm okay with. Had my fun (and still have some fun) doing field work, but I also enjoy being more of the brains/lead behind the work.

You asked about what a typical day is like in a wildlife biologist job. Although I'm not technically a "wildlife" biologist, I'll give you a rundown from a biologist in more of a conservation/natural resource management position. I manage a field office and set my own schedule. My supervisor is 2 hours away in another office. Today I'll be reviewing monitoring reports for landscape/wildlife restoration projects to see how things are progressing, and making written recommendations on needed corrections/future management actions. I'll be writing some letters approving projects, and talking with various private/state/federal partners on projects. I'll be reviewing other peoples work on projects in my office and discussing specifics on different projects. Have a teleconference this afternoon on real estate site protection for restoration projects. All the while responding to emails/phones/meetings. Fitting in where I can other administrative duties eg. office supplies, inventory, vehicle maintenance, safety requirements, etc. etc.

Yeah some days I wish I was still in the field more doing sampling/hands on work, but it's a trade-off. I now have the security and money to pursue my hobbies, and still enjoy my job. I also remember that doing full-time "fun" field work, can get very tiring, and is not always "fun". I think what I like most about my job is working with people and partnering, to put good restoration projects in the ground to benefit conservation and wildlife, and then ultimately seeing that success. If you truly love the outdoors and wildlife, you can make it in this profession. You certainly could take some general classes to see if/what interests you and go from there. You don't have to decide from day 1 exactly what you want to do.

Good luck to you and hope this helps!

 

[william schmaltz]

I don’t think anyone is trying to be a downer here, I feel like the people with experience are just laying out what to expect when entering the wildlife/fisheries biology dog fight.

I graduated with a B.S. in wildlife management. Worked three summers prior to graduation doing seasonal fisheries work. Hired as a wildlife tech right out of college and ran that train for 2.5 years. I finally got to my breaking point after making 30K a year with no overtime allowed and threw in the towel. Probably only needed to stick it out for another half year to a year for a promotion, but with student loans, medical bills, a vehicle that was falling apart, and no guaranteed, it just wasn’t feasible. I still have rock star references from that job and I have been offered to come back to potentially work myself into a higher position, but it feels great to finally have my head above water. It’s kind of annoying how they put graduate degrees on a pedestal. You may have three years of applicable experience for a big game position and have great relationships with everyone involved with the position and then get beat out by someone with a masters degree………who did their field research on f’ing sparrows. It’s ridiculous.

At that job I had all the time in the world (wasn’t allowed overtime pay in field season so built up hundreds of comp hours a year) but hardly enough gas money to go ice fishing in my down time. Now I have the money but wish I had twice as much time off. It’s a tough trade off. Now I spend my winters as an environmental consultant mostly dealing with regulations and spend my summers performing long field days in bush AK. It can really suck at times, especially when I compare it to my days tagging lions, moving big horns, tagging 100+ lb paddle fish, or catching white bass with hook and line for days to do a transport. I still have some pretty awesome days, and have had the privilege of assisting with placing conservation easements on over 20,000 acres of land in the last several years. Stuff like that is very rewarding on a personal level.

It’s all about what is important to you. Money sure isn’t everything, but I can now afford two fly-out destination hunts per year as well as a few guided fishing trips. That’s my trade off from some awesome days in the field when I was getting paid $12 per hour. I still apply for a couple really desirable jobs a year in the biology world. I plan on getting more serious about getting back into the field in a few years once I really have myself set up financially.

Someone above mentioned a double major as a great option. Another degree in something like GIS will add value to a wildlife management degree and if you need it, could produce some great part time side hustle income to get your through the low-income years.

Make sure you have thick skin. Especially if you are dealing with predators. A quick search around this site will show you that everyone is a predator expert. You just have to sit there and listen to the public’s expert nonsense and let it roll off you. We would have meetings one night in a city where no one wants a certain animal hunted then the next night you go to a place where they want every single animal extirpated. It’s a hoot.

 

[william schmaltz]

A small edit to my last post. Please don't confuse me for someone that thinks $30,000 isn't enough. On this note, there is one thing that I would add that will maybe help you out. Most of the times, a position will pay the same whether it's in a rural office or a larger city office. There's a big difference between working somewhere in the state where a very nice home costs $150,00 and another part of that state where the same home costs $350,000. If you are married, there may not be an opportunity for your spouse in the place with the cheaper option (my case). These are all excuses us drop outs make, but hopefully the guidance above helps people to plan out their career a little better! Best of luck!

 

[sodaksooner]

might pm MTMiller on here. He is a biologist in MT.

 

[lkwoolsey]

All, Thanks very much for all of the responses. They have all been very helpful. I've been talking with my adviser here at school (a microbiologist who did a lot of field time as well) and after reading all these posts and speaking with her, I'm thinking of pursuing zoology with a pre-vet emphasis. I got out of the Army because medicine, and just helping others in general, was becoming more and more important to me, but I also realized I wanted to work with animals. Don't know why I never though of the veterinary track before. I was able to speak with a few working wildlife and exotic animal vets and they all said it pays pretty good, but still gets you to be out working with animals. We'll see how it goes.
Again, I can't tell y'all how much I appreciate the quick and very informational responses. Thanks!

 

[frankrb3]

Not to be a Debbie Downer...
I majored in wildlife biology after getting out of the Marines. It is not easy to find work in that field with the government agencies, even with a masters; there is not a lot of openings & very little turnover. Some consulting work, but that has it's challenges as well. And the veterans preference deal seemed to have no influence in my experiences. Your basically looking at doing years of seasonal work until you hopefully get a break.

Being that I was older, had a family to support, I chose to go a different route after one seasonal gig. Keep in mind the pay is about 40% lower than you an make in the private sector and the government benefits aren't what they used to be from what I've been told. If you have any interest in the medical side, that job market seems very strong.

This is very accurate. I am about to graduate with a fish and wildlife management degree from Montana State this spring. I am also a marine veteran and I am having a hard time getting a good look from state and federal agencies, even with veterans preference points. Most people who take my degree want to be a wildlife biologist and plan on going to grad school. I got my degree to be a game warden which is extremely hard to get into as well, so I never had plans to go to grad school since it is not required to be a warden. If you wanna be a biologist, regardless of whether your state requires a masters or not, you're going to need a masters to be competitive for that type of job. Also, biologists have a pretty hard job and have to deal with a lot of B.S. I would say technicians are the ones who are out hiking around collecting data and doing restoration work more often than biologists who have to deal with pissed off land owners and answering emails to higher. Biologist makes more money than a tech though for sure. I believe it's still a very rewarding job if you can get one, but even in the position I am in where I am only a couple months away from getting my degree it still seems like a lifetime and a long shot away.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

A small edit to my last post. Please don't confuse me for someone that thinks $30,000 isn't enough.

$30,000 a year, with student loans, house payment, vehicle payment, etc... isn't enough. It doesn't pay the bills, much less provide for any kind of financial freedom. With today's living cost, it is well below welfare recipient levels. Kinda sad for a college grad to be in that position but, as stated above, supply is way higher then demand in these fields.







I'll say this and be done with it. I've made 6 digit salary incomes in my career. I've made $24,000 a year too 20 years ago. One constant through out that time is my friends with whom I grew up with, that picked up a trade, are all making better money and self employed at this time then anyone I personally know that did go to college. That's quite a few people on both sides. College degrees come at a cost that may very well not return as well as a self employed diesel mechanic, gardener, landscaper, contractor, general mechanic, body man for automobile's, etc.... I have one good friend that served 4 years in the army, is now in the guard, but does body and paint work on vehicles from his home. He told me he made over $150,000 last year, spent every evening playing with his kids when he wasn't due for Guard weekends, set his own hours, and took 5 weeks of vacation. I really don't know how life gets a lot better than that. And, he is just one example of 2 dozen more that choose a different route then a college degree and, are now living a very good life.

 

[ClearCreek]

One of the best ways to be considered for a job with a state agency (or federal agency for that matter) is do apply for and work summer jobs with the agency you most would like to work for after graduate from college. I know of dozens of people that now have permanent biologist and game warden positions that started out working for a summer or two while going to college. It's a proving ground, if you do well or very well, you are the one that will be considered when a job comes open. That is the way almost all biologists and most game wardens get their "foot in the door".

ClearCreek