Zoologists & Wildlife Biologists vs Microbiologists
Median pay is about $11k higher for Microbiologists. The usual entry education is bachelor's for Zoologists & Wildlife Biologists and doctoral for Microbiologists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Zoologists & Wildlife Biologists | Microbiologists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $76,780 | $87,990, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $61,180 | $67,100, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $96,100 | $122,350, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +3.6% Growing | +6.2% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 1,400 | 1,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Doctoral |
| Difficulty modeled | 3.2 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | High |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 44th pct | 66th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, science.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.