Federal Wildlife Biologist — GS-0486. The verified average salary for GS-0486 Wildlife Biologys is $95,061/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 1,854 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
The GS-0486 Wildlife Biology series showed 1,854 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $95,061/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: General Schedule (GS). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
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| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $95,061 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 1,854 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 1,854 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 6.6% | OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%. |
| Pay plan(s) | General Schedule (GS) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | GS-5 to GS-13 | Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 44.15% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate × base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above. |
| Pay cap (2026) | $197,200 | Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap. |
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
Representative duties for the 0486 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
Federal Wildlife Biologists manage native wildlife populations, habitats, and federally protected species across the federal land system. The FWS is the primary employer, managing 568 National Wildlife Refuges and implementing the Endangered Species Act for 1,600+ listed species. Most positions require at minimum a B.S. in wildlife biology or a related natural science. Senior positions require a Master's degree and field research experience. The $95,061 average reflects the mid-grade GS-9 to GS-12 distribution of field biologists, with senior program managers at GS-13 pulling the average upward.
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.