Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.
18,120 people do this job in the US. $76,780 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 57%
- 0%
- 43%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 2%. Today's estimate: 3%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 14 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 25% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 3.5 work weeks | Stays with people | |
| Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 24% | 2.1 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 1%Half by Apr 2028 | |
| Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 16% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 3.3 work weeks | 0%Half by Apr 2029 | |
| Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 13% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 3.5 work weeks | Stays with people | |
| Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 work days1.7 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Jul 2028 | |
| Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 4.2 h50 min to 2.5 work days | 12%Half by Nov 2027 | |
| Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 2% | 2.1 work days4.2 h to 1.7 work weeks | 1%Half by Aug 2028 | |
| Conduct literature reviews.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 3.3 work days | 7%Half by Nov 2027 | |
| Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 1% | 50 min13 min to 1.7 h | 90%Half by now | |
| Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.Done yearly or less by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 1% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | 51%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).