Also called: Bird Biologist, Avian Ecologist
Studies birds: their migration, behavior, and survival.
Climbs to a hawk's nest to band chicks, puts tiny GPS tags on songbirds to track migration across continents, and analyzes data from thousands of citizen birdwatchers.
Estimate based on BLS zoologists and wildlife biologists ($72,860 median, May 2024).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's in biology; master's or PhD for research roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Conservation Biology, Ornithology.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Apps like Merlin ID birds by song and AI processes radar migration data; banding and field research stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1023.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.