Zoology
Students study animal physiology, behavior, ecology, evolution, and biodiversity across species from invertebrates to mammals. Graduates typically pursue careers in wildlife biology, zoo management, animal conservation, veterinary medicine preparation, environmental consulting, and museum curation. This major is ideal for students fascinated by the animal kingdom who want careers in conservation or animal science.
What Zoology graduates do
Your career likely won't start with tracking lions on the savanna. Many Zoology graduates begin as biological technicians, spending their days collecting field samples, running lab tests, and meticulously maintaining equipment. From there, your path can branch significantly. You might advance into a more specialized role as a zoologist or wildlife biologist, designing and conducting studies on animal populations, though these jobs are highly competitive with slow growth. Alternatively, you could move into management, becoming a natural sciences manager where you'll trade fieldwork for overseeing entire research programs, securing funding, and leading teams.
A faster-growing path is in education, where you could become a postsecondary biology teacher, inspiring the next generation of scientists. Across these roles, AI is becoming a powerful assistant. With moderate exposure (46%), expect AI to automate routine data analysis and sample processing. This won't eliminate your job, but it will change it, shifting your focus toward complex problem-solving, experimental design, and hands-on fieldwork that machines can't replicate. Adaptability is key, as your value will lie in using these tools to answer bigger questions.
Students weighing Zoology often also consider Neuroscience, Biotechnology, and Botany & Plant Biology — compare earnings, ROI, and AI outlook side by side.
Where Zoology graduates work
Common career paths for Zoology graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 29,200 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Natural sciences managers
|
$161,180
$114K–$215K
|
8,500 | +3.7% | High · 50% |
|
Biological scientists, all other
|
$93,330
$68K–$121K
|
4,800 | +1.2% | Moderate · 49% |
|
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
|
$83,460
$64K–$125K
|
5,400 | +7.3% | Moderate · 47% |
|
Zoologists and wildlife biologists
|
$72,860
$58K–$91K
|
1,400 | +1.6% | Moderate · 45% |
|
Biological technicians
|
$52,000
$45K–$66K
|
9,100 | +3.5% | Moderate · 42% |
Best schools for Zoology
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 10 of 55.
| # | School | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT · Public
|
42 | $35,618 | 9.5x |
| 6 |
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK · Public
|
41 | $30,931 | 15.7x |
| 7 |
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT · Public
|
40 | $35,618 | 8.0x |
| 8 |
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public
|
39 | $29,303 | 21.3x |
| 9 |
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public
|
39 | $29,303 | 21.3x |
| 10 |
Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH · Public
|
39 | $29,303 | 21.3x |
| 11 |
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public
|
39 | $29,303 | 21.3x |
| 12 |
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public
|
39 | $29,303 | 21.3x |
| 13 |
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Fargo, ND · Public
|
38 | $33,115 | 12.0x |
| 14 |
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX · Public
|
38 | $30,736 | 16.3x |
| 15 |
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · Public
|
37 | $23,809 | 21.9x |
| 16 |
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public
|
36 | $37,633 | 7.9x |
| 17 |
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT · Private nonprofit
|
34 | $24,457 | 18.8x |
| 18 |
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY · Public
|
32 | $29,359 | 14.9x |
| 19 |
Weber State University
Ogden, UT · Public
|
32 | $28,461 | 16.3x |
| 20 |
University of Maine
Orono, ME · Public
|
31 | $35,130 | 6.0x |
Highest Earnings Top 5
| San Francisco State University
CA |
$41,565 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara
CA |
$37,633 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
CT |
$35,618 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point
CT |
$35,618 |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford
CT |
$35,618 |
Best ROI Top 5
| University of Florida
FL |
21.9x |
| Ohio University-Eastern Campus
OH |
21.3x |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
OH |
21.3x |
| Ohio University-Southern Campus
OH |
21.3x |
| Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
OH |
21.3x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Zoology.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Zoology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Zoology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Zoology
What do Zoology graduates make in their first year?
The median first-year salary across 55 Zoology programs is $28,449. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($17,085) and highest ($41,565) earning programs is significant.
How exposed is Zoology to AI disruption?
AI exposure for Zoology is rated "High." With 51% of tasks potentially affected by large language models, most career functions face meaningful automation pressure in the coming decade.
What's the top-ranked school for Zoology?
San Francisco State University leads all 55 programs with a DegreeOutlook Score of 51/100. Graduates earn $41,565/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
What's the outlook for a Zoology degree?
The average 10-year earnings multiple is 8.9x tuition. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.