Biologist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Biologist roles in the U.S. routinely qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, and federal research employers can sponsor through cap-exempt pathways. Most positions require a bachelor's degree minimum, with graduate credentials strengthening petitions for research-focused roles. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Biologist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 74+ Biologist jobs










See all 74+ Biologist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Biologist roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
Salary
$6,612.67 - $7,347.60 Monthly
Location
Cody, WY
Job Type
Permanent Full-time
Job Number
2026-01953
Department
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Division
Wildlife
Opening Date
07/31/2026
Closing Date
8/21/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Exempt
Job Classification
FWWB10
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) seeks a Senior Regional Wildlife Biologist based in Cody, Wyoming. This position leads wildlife disease management efforts within the Cody Region, and sometimes assists in statewide disease management efforts. This position is supervised out of the Cody Region. Working for the State of Wyoming offers more than a paycheck. Our total compensation package includes:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid vacation, sick leave, FMLA, and holidays
- Retirement - Pension and 457(b) plans that help you build a secure future
- Flexible schedules and work-life balance options
- Meaningful work that makes a difference for Wyoming communities
and MUCH MORE!
Human Resource Contact: Dezzaree Schott / dezzaree.schott@wyo.gov
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function which may be performed in the job level.
- Coordinates and implements regional (and occasionally statewide) surveillance and management actions to understand and, if possible, reduce the prevalence of diseases in wildlife populations.
- Coordinates with the Department's Veterinary Services Branch and regional wildlife personnel on disease sampling, submission, and study needs.
- Conducts field checks and collects biological samples from harvested wildlife for disease surveillance.
- Assists with other identified disease surveillance and management needs, including the development of project proposals, solicitation of funding, and review and editing of periodic or final reports.
- Provides wildlife disease-based recommendations for hunting season dates, quotas, and population objectives. Remains knowledgeable and current on disease sampling techniques and provides training to regional personnel as needed.
- Plans, coordinates, and conducts large scale data collection efforts involving multiple field personnel. Leads analyses using population data for game animals including but not limited to information on population size and trend, herd ratios, distribution, movement and migration patterns, field checks of harvested animals, and mortality factors. Leads the coordination and development of hunting seasons designed to move animal populations toward established objectives, including the understanding and incorporation of public feedback. Collects data for disease surveillance and population monitoring for non-game, protected, and SGCN species.
- Develops initial comments and recommendations for regional wildlife environmental reviews regarding projects from county governments, state and federal agencies, and private landowners. Project recommendations are developed to minimize impacts to wildlife populations by recommending alternatives and mitigation.
- Represents the WGFD at public meetings. Develops and maintains effective working relations by communicating and coordinating with private landowners, state and local governmental agencies, project proponents, and NGOs to effectively communicate WGFD programs and policies. Present programs to civic and sportsperson organizations and schools. Routinely communicates with hunters and landowners.
- Responds to and appropriately handles injured and nuisance wildlife calls which may require euthanasia of wildlife. Uses chemical and mechanical immobilization equipment and techniques when necessary and appropriate. Uses firearms to euthanize wildlife.
- Identifies specific wildlife related research needs and develops project proposals, including methods and budgets, coordinates with researchers, writes proposals to acquire funds, provides input and guidance to project personnel, collects data, and writes, reviews, and edits annual and final project reports.
- Assists in coordinating and conducting habitat management by evaluating wildlife habitat conditions, collecting data, and recommending improvements or projects to enhance wildlife habitat.
- Participates in WGFD assigned species working groups and committee assignments.
- Ensures budget and grant expenditures are within allocated amounts and in accordance with fiscal procedures. Maintains assigned vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other technical equipment. Carries out other duties as assigned.
- Day and overnight travel through some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48 states of the US to collect biological data, or to other regions to assist with disease monitoring and mitigation activities.
PREFERENCES:
Preference may be given to applicants with a Master’s degree in wildlife management, wildlife habitat, ecology, or related field plus two years of professional work experience in wildlife management, wildlife habitat, ecology, or related field.
Preference will be given to applicants who attach an original, applicant-written cover letter with their online state application.
Agency requires that the successful applicant have a valid driver’s license.
KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge of wildlife diseases, human safety procedures, and precautionary measures. Ability to coordinate and work with regional stakeholders on complex wildlife disease management issues.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex wildlife populations while effectively engaging stakeholders and addressing public interests.
- Exhibits professionalism, sound judgement, and a positive, collaborative attitude.
- Knowledge of terrestrial wildlife management, population monitoring, and data collection techniques, and regional conservation issues.
- Ability to draft, edit, and communicate technical and non-technical information for diverse audiences.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including in-person, email, phone, and public presentations.
- Proficiency in generating maps and spatial analyses using visualization tools such as GIS.
- Experience traveling extensively on a routine basis within large, rural districts.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct independent fieldwork in adverse weather, including severe winter conditions, and in remote backcountry settings using varied transportation methods including snowmobiles, ATVs, four-wheel drive vehicles, and horses or mules.
- Experience engaging directly with hunters, anglers, and other recreationists.
- Ability to balance significant field presence with administrative, analytical, and reporting responsibilities.
- Strong understanding of wildlife habitat requirements, limiting factors, threats, and habitat management practices.
- Proficiency with relevant technologies used in wildlife management, including data collection hardware and software.
- Ability to analyze and interpret biological and spatial data to inform management decisions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
Bachelor's Degree (typically in Wildlife Management)
Experience:
1-2 years progressive work experience (typically in Wildlife Management) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Wildlife Biologist II
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
None
PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Travel within the region is required and can involve long drive times and work in remote areas. Additional travel outside the region may be necessary for specific projects.
- Wild and domestic animal handling, firearms use, long hours, and irregular schedules are all required by this position.
- Backcountry travel required at times, often in high density grizzly bear habitat.
NOTES:
FLSA: Exempt
The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.
Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.
See all 74+ Biologist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Biologist roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Biologist Jobs
Verify your degree field matches the role
USCIS evaluates whether your degree directly relates to the specific biological discipline advertised. A general biology degree supporting a molecular biology role may trigger a Request for Evidence, so document the field overlap explicitly in your petition.
Target cap-exempt employers for H-1B sponsorship
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated labs are cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without lottery risk. Biologist roles at these institutions often move to approval faster than private-sector filings.
Pull wage data before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your occupation and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Level I through Level IV wages for your specific biology SOC code before you negotiate.
Get your foreign credentials evaluated early
If your biology degree is from outside the U.S., obtain a credential evaluation before applying. USCIS accepts evaluations showing your foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's in a relevant biological science, but delays here stall the entire petition timeline.
Check the O*NET profile to build your specialty occupation case
The O*NET occupation profile for Biologists documents the degree requirements and knowledge domains USCIS references when evaluating specialty occupation status. Pull the job zone and education data to support your petition's specialty occupation argument.
File your LCA and I-129 through Migrate Mate
Once you have a signed offer, Migrate Mate handles the LCA submission to DOL and I-129 preparation at a flat fee, with a dedicated expert reviewing your biologist-specific documentation before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a biologist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes, most biologist positions qualify because USCIS requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific biological science as the normal minimum for entry into the occupation. The O*NET profile for Biologists designates the role as Job Zone 5, which supports the specialty occupation argument. Roles requiring only a general science degree with no biological specialization can face greater scrutiny.
Can biologists get sponsored outside the H-1B lottery?
Yes. Universities, nonprofit research centers, and federally funded labs are cap-exempt H-1B employers and can sponsor biologists year-round without entering the annual lottery. Many government research agencies also hire through direct federal employment pathways that don't require a private-sector visa petition at all. Browse open biologist roles at sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate.
Does a master's or PhD in biology improve H-1B approval odds?
A graduate degree strengthens the specialty occupation case and may qualify you for the advanced degree cap, which historically has a higher selection rate in the H-1B lottery. For research biologist roles specifically, a master's or PhD also aligns more closely with the advertised duties, reducing the likelihood of a Request for Evidence from USCIS on the degree-to-role match.
What happens to H-1B sponsorship if a biologist switches employers mid-petition?
If you change employers after an H-1B has been filed but before it's approved, the new employer must file a fresh petition. If you're already in H-1B status, portability under AC21 allows you to change jobs in a same or similar occupational classification after 180 days of the petition being filed. Biologist roles generally qualify as same or similar to adjacent life sciences positions.
Do biologist roles qualify for PERM-based green card sponsorship?
Yes. Employers can sponsor biologists for employment-based green cards through the PERM labor certification process, which requires demonstrating no qualified U.S. workers are available for the role. Research biologist positions with specialized subdiscipline requirements, such as computational biology or marine biology, often satisfy the specificity needed to support a PERM filing under the EB-2 or EB-3 category.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Biologist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.