Wildlife Capture Specialist

Also called: Aerial Capture Crew Member, Wildlife Immobilization Specialist

Safely captures wild animals for research collars, relocation, or medical care.

A day in the life

Hangs out of a helicopter with a net gun to catch a bighorn sheep, darts an elk with sedatives, and fits GPS collars while the vet checks vital signs.

Pay over a career

Starting

$40k

Typical

$60k

High

$90k

Estimate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in wildlife biology plus specialized capture training; often contract crews.

Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Wildlife Biology.

Outlook

Growing about average. Small niche.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk for 10 years. Drones help locate animals, but netting, darting and safely handling wild animals is physical, high-skill human work.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Biology, Physical education, AP Environmental Science, Agriscience (FFA).

• Take your state's hunter education course
• Volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center
• Join a Youth Conservation Corps summer crew

Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4021.

More Wildlife & Conservation Biology careers

• Wildlife Veterinarian
• Research Wildlife Biologist
• Endangered Species Program Manager
• Conservation Organization Director
• Wildlife Biologist
• Fish & Game Warden
• Wildlife Forensic Scientist
• Ornithologist
• Wildlife Refuge Manager
• Wildlife GIS Analyst
• Wildlife Damage Management Specialist
• Wildlife Technician
• Interpretive Park Ranger
• Wildlife Removal Specialist
• Hunting & Fishing Guide
• Wildlife Photographer
• Wildlife Special Agent
• Wildlife Disease Biologist
• Bat Biologist
• Camera Trap Technician
• Bear Management Technician
• Game Bird Farmer
• Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling Technician

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.