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Wildlife Management

3 schools compared · Average earnings $32,059/yr

Quick Facts: Wildlife Management Training

Where it's offered

Wildlife Management programs are offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.

Earnings expectations

Graduates earn approximately $32,059/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.

Apprenticeship pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 1 registered apprenticeship pathway related to Wildlife Management — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.

Program quality benchmark

Across the 3 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 34/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.

What Wildlife Management Graduates Do

Your career begins with your boots on the ground. As an entry-level technician, you’ll spend your days in forests, wetlands, and rangelands, tracking animal populations with GPS collars and remote cameras, collecting biological samples, and surveying vegetation. You'll work directly under senior biologists and scientists, learning the practical skills of fieldwork in all weather conditions.

Read more

With experience, you’ll move from collecting data to analyzing it. As a wildlife biologist or conservation scientist, you’ll manage your own projects, using GIS software to map habitats and writing reports that guide land use decisions for government agencies or private landowners. Senior-level paths can lead to managing entire conservation programs or becoming a specialist in a particular species. The highest earners often become postsecondary teachers, training the next generation of scientists.

While AI tools may assist with data analysis and population modeling, they can’t replace the essential work of collecting samples or restoring a habitat by hand. Your hands-on expertise remains the core of your career, ensuring a steady demand for professionals who can work directly in the wild.

If Wildlife Management doesn't fit your goals, programs like Forestry, Natural Resources, and Agriculture draw from adjacent skill sets.

Schools Offering
3
Avg Grad Earnings
$32,059/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
34/100
Apprenticeship Paths
1
View pathways ↓

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 1 registered apprenticeship occupation related to Wildlife Management. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship Training Hours Type Salary RangeSalary Growth
Soil Conservation Technician
RAPIDS 450 		6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs 		Time $53K – $67,950 – $88K 3.4%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Find Wildlife Management Programs in Your State

Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Wildlife Management is offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.

Arizona (1) Colorado (1) Ohio (1)

Top Wildlife Management Programs Nationally

For context, here are the highest-scoring Wildlife Management programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.

3 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.

# School Score Earnings ROI
1 Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO		 55
50–57		 $36,860/yr 76.8x
2 Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ		 43
36–46		 $32,402/yr 37.2x
3 Hocking College
Nelsonville, OH		 38
31–42		 $26,914/yr 36.1x

Highest Earning Wildlife Management Programs

Schools where Wildlife Management graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings Score
Front Range Community College $36,860/yr 55
Northern Arizona University $32,402/yr 43
Hocking College $26,914/yr 38

Best ROI for Wildlife Management

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Wildlife Management.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Front Range Community College 76.8x $36,860/yr 55
Northern Arizona University 37.2x $32,402/yr 43
Hocking College 36.1x $26,914/yr 38

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

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Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Wildlife Management degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.

Compare Wildlife Management degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Wildlife Management program?
First-year earnings for Wildlife Management graduates average $32,059 annually, based on data from 3 programs. The range spans $26,914 at the low end to $36,860 at the top.
Will AI replace Wildlife Management jobs?
Wildlife Management is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 51% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means most career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.
Where should I study Wildlife Management?
Our data ranks Front Range Community College first among 3 Wildlife Management programs. Its score of 55/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($36,860/yr), return on investment, and career durability.
What's the ROI on a Wildlife Management program?
On average, Wildlife Management graduates earn 50.0x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, and DOL RAPIDS. Methodology & sources →