How much can I make studying herpetology?

How Much Can I Make?


A group of young alligators

Here are a few salary possibilities:

• Full-time museum assistant: $12,000 to $18,000 a year
• Zoo keeper: $15,000 to $25,000
• Full-time research or laboratory assistant: $17,000 to $35,000
• Museum collection manager: $18,000 to $45,000
• Zoo curator or supervisor: $30,000 to $50,000
• College or university professor: $30,000 to $80,000.

It is very important to note that each one of these careers requires a college degree! Many of them require a master's and doctorate degree.

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Herpetologist Career

So, you are still interested, right? Not too scared? So what is in your future? Here are some things to consider for this and any other career you are considering!

How much will you make?

As a herpetologist, your annual salary can range from pretty low, around $12,000, to a high of around $80,000 for the most experienced and educated.

This is not a career that will make you rich, but would be personally rewarding if this is something you truly enjoy.

It Costs Less to Live Here


Shawn in his gator-mobile!

It costs less to live on the Gulf Coast:

• We very rarely pay to park a car or drive over a bridge.
• Things are close together.
• Housing is cheaper than elsewhere in America
• These factors can make a huge difference!

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The federal government's Occupational Outlook Handbook contains a lot of useful information for people interested in a profession in the biological sciences. For example, this handbook states that median annual earnings of zoologists and wildlife biologists were $55,290 in 2008.

Salaries ranged from $33,550 to $90,850, with beginning salaries averaging $33,254 in July of 2009.

Projected employment through 2016 is expected to have some limited growth, providing some job opportunities within this career

Where will you have to live?

Another thing to consider is the cost of living where your career is located. For Shawn, living on the Gulf Coast is cheaper than living in most big cities.

Where can I find out more?
Find Out More


A gator eating out of the side of her mouth

The American Society for Ichthyologists and Herpetologists has some great information about education, careers, suggested readings and professional organizations.

This is a great source that can help you dig a little deeper into this field!

What are the benefits?

As dangerous as his job is, it's interesting that Shawn doesn't get very many benefits. He is not covered under any group health insurance policy. That's partly because he has chosen to work for a small business.

If he worked for a university, museum or zoo, he would almost certainly be covered under their group policy. Other important benefits like retirement plans, sick days, and vacation time will depend on the employer.

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Moss Point, MS

WRITTEN BY:

Elizabeth

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