H-1B Hiring Trends for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Explore H-1B visa filings for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 95% |
| Average Salary | $73,439 |
| Salary Range | $38,245 - $139,395 |
| Top Sponsor | University of Washington |
| Primary Location | California |
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 8 filings and an average salary of $76,279. H-1B hiring for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is concentrated in a few states, with California leading. The majority of H-1B applications for this role are for full-time positions. There's a significant demand for this role, as indicated by the number of applications compared to available positions.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 95% |
| Average Salary | $73,439 |
| Median Salary | $70,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,450 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $38,245 |
| Maximum Salary | $139,395 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,450 |
| Median (50th) | $70,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $105,000 |
| Average | $73,439 |
| Sample Size | 100 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 91 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 9 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| California | 18 |
| Washington | 11 |
| New York | 11 |
| Oregon | 5 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Florida | 4 |
| Kentucky | 4 |
| Alaska | 3 |
| Ohio | 3 |
| Guam | 3 |
Focus your H-1B job search on states with higher concentrations of relevant research institutions and conservation organizations, and highlight specialized skills in wildlife research and data analysis.
The average H-1B salary for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is $76,279, with a median of $76,814. The 25th-75th percentile range is $69,209 to $90,600.
Top H-1B sponsors for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists include Research Foundation for the State University of New York, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, Zoological Society of San Diego, University of California, Merced, Purdue University. A total of 7 employers have filed for this role.
There are 8 H-1B filings on record for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions are California (4), New York (1), Virginia (1), Indiana (1), Washington (1).
Yes, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 8 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salaries range from $53,040 to $113,409. The median salary is $76,814.
The approval rate for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists H-1B petitions is 100.0%. California is the primary destination for H-1B Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists.
The number of H-1B applications has seen a notable increase in FY2025.
Focus your H-1B job search on states with higher concentrations of relevant research institutions and conservation organizations, and highlight specialized skills in wildlife research and data analysis.
The data suggests a strong employer interest in securing H-1B talent for these scientific roles.
The Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists occupation (SOC code 19-102300) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions show an average offered salary of $73,439, with a range from $38,245 at the entry level to $139,395 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in California (18 filings) and Washington (11 filings).
Career outlook for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions, the average offered salary of $73,439 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 14.2%, with 70% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions is 95%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists H-1B filings is approximately 32 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists positions.