What is the life like for a zoologist?

Question

I am thinking about being one for my profession. I would like to know what you do on a daily basis and the average salary. Thanks

Answer 1

It is a fun job but the job market is very small. There are few opportunities other than with museums, parks, zoos and universities. Field zoologists spend their time observing animals in the wild, doing population counts and often lecturing in attempts to get grants to continue their studies.I have spent 30 years being bitten, scratched, clawed, mauled, in mud, swamps, mountains, rain storms and even typhoons. I have been pierced, stabbed, struck and cut by plants with thorns, needles, spikes, and barbs and while I'll never be rich, I am happy. Nothing can matching seeing pandas in their home or watching elephants move like ghosts through the jungles. For salary, if you work for a well-heeled group, you might make a little more than a teacher, so if you are doing it for money, find a different career. To support my love of zoology, I am also a physician and pay most of my own expenses but for three months each year, I get to have fun.

Answer 2

I have a degree in Zoology and work as a wildlife biologist, and specialize in the study of birds. I absolutely love my career and am glad I stuck with it, even though my family told me I should give it up and become a teacher. I work for a non-profit and actually make more money than I ever thought I would make in this career. Biologists are notorious for being underpaid!! You can work as a zookeeper as well with a B.S. degree, but pay ranges are great depending on what zoo you work for, best paying zoos I know of are L.A. Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and Disneys Animal Kingdom. If you want to go into wildlife biology you can work for a government agency like US Fish and Wildlife, Dept. of Fish and Game, etc. If you want a decent salary I suggest working for a consultant firm. My work consists of doing bird surveys, bat surveys, nest searching and monitoring, running Brown-headed Cowbird traps, running herpetological arrays, monitoring invasive plant removal, habitat assessment, report writing, etc.

Answer 3

I would see it as more of a vocational choice rather than a choice you might make to make real money. 25 years ago I spent 4 years studying zoology over the objections of my parents and I don't regret it - they were the best 4 years of my life. I was wildly successful as a zoology student but it was never going to pan out as a carer My advice is take the degree, enjoy the experience and make your career decision at the end of that process - it's a long life and there's absolutely no need to box yourself into anything just yet.