Zoologist
Study animals, their habits and the places they live.
Also known as: wildlife expert, parasitologist, paleozoologist, ornithologist, naturalist, natural historian, herpetologist, entomologist, ecologist, biologist
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£442
Entry level
£923
Experienced
Monthly
£1,917
Entry level
£4,000
Experienced
Yearly
£23,000
Entry level
£48,000
Experienced
11,500
people are currently employed
High growth
700 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would study animals, their habits and the places they live.You could use your skills to:
Develop medicines
Improve the quality of crops and farm animals
Control diseases and pests
Protect wild animals and their homes
Support animal rights
Write policies for charities or the government
You would:
Study animals in the wild or in a zoo or laboratory
Collect, record and study information
Use manual and computerised methods to look at cells, fertilise eggs and more
Write technical reports
Give presentations and publish information in journals and books
Manage assistants
You could become an expert in one area, for example reptiles, insects, fossils, or the environment.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Life sciences
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- understanding
- analysing
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- working with numbers
- written communication
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Environmental Science
Science
You would need a degree (SCQF level 9/10) in a subject such as:
Zoology
Animal ecology
Animal behaviour
Conservation
Many people who do this job also have postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Science (MSc) (SCQF level 11) or a doctoral degree (SCQF level 12) in relevant subjects.
Most undergraduate courses ask for at least four Highers at B or above (SCQF level 6). Some universities may require AABB (first sitting) for entry.
The University of Dundee offers a BSc Life Sciences course which requires Highers in Biology and Chemistry plus National 5 Mathematics. This course has been developed for those with high academic potential who experienced disadvantage.
You will normally have to get some voluntary experience before getting any work in this area, possibly volunteering on field survey trips or working in a research lab.
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