AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 19-1023.00
Will AI replace Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists: AI can already handle 4 of 14 tasks; the work mostly needs a standard-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 14 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, from most to least exposed. 4 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| 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. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Conduct literature reviews. | Estimated | Standard | |
| 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. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Prepare collections of preserved specimens or microscopic slides for species identification and study of development or disease. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them. | Observed | Efficient | |
| Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Collect and dissect animal specimens and examine specimens under microscope. | Estimated | Efficient |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 1 of 14 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 13 of 14. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.
The model tier this role needs
A standard-tier model or lower covers 85% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.
Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.
Wages, employment and outlook
- US employment
- 18,120
- Median annual wage
- $76,780
- Middle half of earners
- $61,180 to $96,100
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- +1.6%
Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.
Adjacent roles
The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.
- Biologists 83% skill overlap, about 6 months to move Exposure56
- Animal Scientists 71% skill overlap, about 11 months to move Exposure67
- Conservation Scientists 66% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure59
- Biological Technicians 65% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure62
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists 64% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure61
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists and AI
Will AI replace Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
AI already handles 4 of the 14 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 48 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +1.6% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists?
48 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 1 of the 14 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 13 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry; 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; Conduct literature reviews. They are three of the 4 tasks that reach 60 or more.
What AI model tier does this role need?
A standard-tier model or lower covers 85% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.
How many people work as Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, and what do they earn?
18,120 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $76,780 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +1.6% from 2024 to 2034.
How to cite
Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.
JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/zoologists-and-wildlife-biologists
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