How To Become A Resource Biologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a resource biologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted Expert

Craig Magie Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a resource biologist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.72 an hour? That's $55,582 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Resource Biologist?

Craig Magie Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology Quinnipiac University Department of Biological Sciences, Quinnipiac University

Decide what sort of biology you enjoy the most, and pursue a career based on that. For example, some students enjoy laboratory science and would be a good fit for a job in the pharmaceutical industry. Others enjoy being outside in nature and would be better served by a career in the forest service or something similar. The more you enjoy what you do, the more motivated you will be to do it well. Make sure you have marketable skills employers are looking for and play up your critical thinking skills and adaptability. You may not be familiar with the specific technologies used in a particular job, but if you can demonstrate that you are a quick and eager learner you will be a more attractive candidate.

ScoreResource BiologistUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $55,582

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.2

Growth Rate 1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.58%

Asian 11.13%

Black or African American 2.31%

Hispanic or Latino 6.35%

Unknown 4.95%

White 74.69%

Gender

female 41.18%

male 58.82%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress Level

5.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a resource biologist

Explore resource biologist education requirements

Most common resource biologist degrees

Bachelor's

90.3 %

Associate

6.5 %

Doctorate

3.2 %

Start to develop specific resource biologist skills

Skills	Percentages
GIS	33.58%
Water Quality	23.02%
GPS	12.95%
Species Surveys	12.78%
Biological Data	11.07%

Research resource biologist duties and responsibilities

Manage detailed GLP laboratory manual daily.
Analyze MBSS ecological data against other GIS data sets, e.g., calculate land use/ land cover for all MBSS sites.
Gather GIS data, photographs and compile daily reports of field observations make while working with and advising cleanup crews.
Project require review of existing environmental data, identification of permitting requirements, wetland identification/delineation and sensitive and endanger species issues.

Prepare your resource biologist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your resource biologist resume.

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Apply for resource biologist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a resource biologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do resource biologists rate their job?