Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. As a career, it is relatively limited in scope and is often folded into a broader job rooted in general biology.

As such, the salary for herpetologists is generally on par with other wildlife biologists. Since there is no formal herpetology degree offered at universities, all herpetologists are, essentially, biologists with a special interest in amphibian and reptile species.

Herpetologist Salary | Salary Genius

Salaries vary, depending on the type of employer and the education and experience of the herpetologist. Most herpetologists work as university professors or researchers. These positions almost always require a doctorate in biology, although small colleges sometimes will hire educators with only a master's degree. Herpetologists in a university setting seldom work only, or even primarily, with amphibians and reptiles.

Instead, they are expected to teach or research a variety of biological subjects apart from herpetology. These positions do come with a measure of freedom, however, and university herpetologists often have opportunities to do research and conduct studies in their areas of interest, whether in a lab or in the field.

The salary is respectable as well, according to the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Professors who hold a Ph. Museums offer jobs for herpetologists as scientists or curators, both of which allow for substantial time to devote to herpetology research. Often, however, museums are associated with a university and the herpetologist might be teaching courses while conducting museum research. Museum scientists and curators require a Ph. Herpetologists who hold a master's degree can work as collection managers and take care of a museum's preserved reptile and amphibian collections.

Zoological parks hire herpetologists to work with live reptile or amphibian exhibits and to provide animal care.

These are among the few herpetology-related positions that can be obtained with a bachelor's degree, according to the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. The federal government occasionally hires herpetologists to work in wildlife management doing field research or researching and composing regulations.

The Salary of a Herpetologist | nocuwahojopyx.web.fc2.com

Some herpetologists go pursue jobs that are not as focused on their fields of study, such as biomedical sales reps or as veterinary assistants. This is particularly true of herpetologists who do not pursue graduate degrees. Additionally, some go into business for themselves, using their expertise with amphibians and reptiles to breed and sell them, or to extract snake venom for medical research.

These jobs make up a much smaller percentage of employed herpetologists than the university, museum, zoological or wildlife management fields. Salaries vary wildly and are difficult to quantify.

Jeffrey Joyner has had numerous articles published on the Internet covering a wide range of topics. He studied electrical engineering after a tour of duty in the military, then became a freelance computer programmer for several years before settling on a career as a writer.

Skip to main content. Colleges and Universities Most herpetologists work as university professors or researchers.

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Museums Museums offer jobs for herpetologists as scientists or curators, both of which allow for substantial time to devote to herpetology research. Zoos and Wildlife Management Zoological parks hire herpetologists to work with live reptile or amphibian exhibits and to provide animal care. Other Herpetology Careers Some herpetologists go pursue jobs that are not as focused on their fields of study, such as biomedical sales reps or as veterinary assistants.

References 3 Bureau of Labor Statistics: Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists — Pay Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles: Careers in Herpetology American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: About the Author Jeffrey Joyner has had numerous articles published on the Internet covering a wide range of topics. Suggest an Article Correction. Also Viewed [Biologist] What is an Animal Biologist?

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