Career Options for Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Graduates in Zoology
Career News April 26, 2014Museums, zoos, laboratories, hatcheries, and pharmaceutical companies are some faculties that offer employment opportunities for professionals in zoology that have a bachelor’s degree. Area of specialization effects job titles.
Career Options for Graduates
Graduates of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs in Zoology can seek entry-level careers in universities, colleges, environmental agencies, agricultural departments, hatcheries, wildlife rehabilitation centers, museums, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and medical laboratories. Given the broad nature of the field of zoology, zoology majors can seek occupations in a range of areas depending on their branch of specialization.
For example, birds’ origins, life processes and behaviors are studied by zoologists, referred to as ornithologists. Similarly, amphibians and reptiles’ origins, life processes and behaviors are studied by zoologists, known as herpetologists. These professionals can choose from an array of other job titles including research and laboratory technician, a biology teacher, technical writer, environmental consultant, veterinary technologist and technician, animal caretaker, and zookeeper.
Those aspiring for careers in zoology typically begin by opting for college courses in physics, statistics, calculus, chemistry, biology, ecology, genetics, and animal psychology and behavior. A specialization or area of concentration is often selected by zoology majors. Often, this specialization is categorized by animal groups. These professionals may also opt for specialization in a particular area, such as environmental science, cellular biology or genetics.
Salary Levels of Zoology Majors
General zoologists take home an average annual wage ranging between $35,508 and $75,000. Numerous factors, including job title, can contribute to variations in the pay scales of these experts. For instance, veterinary technologists and technicians gross between $20,596 (those with work experience of less than 12 months) and $41,425 (earned by zoologists with over 20 years of work experience). At the lower end of the income ladder, medical laboratory technicians who have less than 12 months of work experience average a wage of $25,210 annually, while at the higher end are those with work experience of 20 years or more, who take home $48,457 per year. A slower than average job growth rate of 5% has been predicted for wildlife biologists and zoologists during the decade from 2008 to 2018 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)).
 Graduates in Zoology on http://educationcareerarticles.com "Pin It")
