Prevailing Wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Prevailing wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (SOC 19-1023) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer is for a Conservation Biologist post with a federal agency or an Aquatic Biologist role at an environmental consulting firm, DOL assigns four experience levels and the floor shifts significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level wildlife biologists with limited field experience, typically recent graduates performing routine data collection, species surveys, or lab analysis under close supervision. DOL expects minimal independent judgment and a narrow scope of assignments at this level.
Qualified professionals with some independent fieldwork experience who apply standard biological methods with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, reflecting roles that require a degree plus practical field or research experience.
Experienced biologists who design studies, lead field teams, or manage wildlife management programs with limited oversight. DOL expects demonstrated expertise in a subspecialty such as fisheries science, raptor ecology, or habitat assessment at this level.
Fully competent senior scientists or program leads who set research direction, mentor junior staff, and exercise broad independent judgment. Roles involving principal investigator responsibilities or agency-level wildlife policy oversight typically warrant this level.
Prevailing Wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Watch for federal agency worksite misclassification
Many Conservation Biologist and Forest Wildlife Biologist roles are placed at federal facilities or national forests. The LCA worksite must match the physical location where fieldwork occurs, not the sponsoring employer's headquarters city, which can shift the prevailing wage floor substantially.
Flag signing bonuses excluded from the wage calculation
DOL requires the prevailing wage be met through regular wages, not one-time payments. Signing bonuses and relocation stipends common in federal contractor wildlife roles do not count toward satisfying the floor, so confirm your base salary alone clears the level wage.
Check Washington DC versus lower-paying Florida metros
The spread between the highest-paying metro for this occupation and lower-paying metros like Jacksonville or Orlando is dramatic at every level. If you have offers in both regions, the prevailing wage floor differs enough to meaningfully affect your total compensation benchmark.
Find employers sponsoring wildlife biologists on Migrate Mate
Government contractors, environmental consultancies, and research institutions all sponsor Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists at different rates. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored the role so you can focus on organizations with a real track record.
Jobs for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-1023.00 alongside Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Aquatic Biologist Prevailing Wage
Aquatic Biologist Prevailing Wage
Aquatic Biologist positions fall under SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Conservation Biologist Prevailing Wage
Conservation Biologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Conservation Biologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fish and Wildlife Biologist Prevailing Wage
Fish and Wildlife Biologist Prevailing Wage
Fish and Wildlife Biologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist Prevailing Wage
Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist Prevailing Wage
Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist positions fall under SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fisheries Biologist Prevailing Wage
Fisheries Biologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fisheries Biologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Forest Wildlife Biologist Prevailing Wage
Forest Wildlife Biologist Prevailing Wage
Forest Wildlife Biologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Habitat Biologist Prevailing Wage
Habitat Biologist Prevailing Wage
Habitat Biologist positions fall under SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Wildlife Biologist Prevailing Wage
Wildlife Biologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Wildlife Biologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Wildlife Refuge Specialist Prevailing Wage
Wildlife Refuge Specialist Prevailing Wage
Wildlife Refuge Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Zoologist Prevailing Wage
Zoologist Prevailing Wage
Zoologist positions fall under SOC 19-1023.00 (Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish four wage levels for each SOC occupation. For SOC 19-1023, OFLC publishes these level wages annually. Employers sponsoring a visa must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level wage for the worksite area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience, autonomy, and scope of work. Level 1 applies to entry-level biologists performing routine tasks under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified professionals working with moderate independence, and is the most commonly filed level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced specialists leading projects. Level 4 covers senior scientists with broad program responsibility. Your level should match your actual job duties, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same wildlife biologist role vary so much by city?
OFLC assigns wages using area-specific Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so each metro's floor reflects local labor market conditions. Washington DC commands a significantly higher floor than Orlando or Jacksonville because the concentration of federal agencies and contractors drives up regional survey wages. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so a biologist posted to a remote field station uses that station's metro wage, not the employer's home-office city.
What happens if a job offer for a sponsored position is below the prevailing wage?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve the H-1B or other visa petition. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the salary, reclassify the role to a lower level if the duties genuinely support it, or use a different worksite with a lower prevailing wage. Candidates should verify the floor before signing an offer letter.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 19-1023 wages by metro area. Select the relevant area and wage year to see the four level wages for that location. You can also check recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have actually certified for wildlife biologist roles in that city. Migrate Mate surfaces employers with sponsorship history for this occupation, which can help you identify active hiring organizations before you begin the wage verification step.
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