How to Become a Herpetologist

Most herpetologists never earned a degree with “herpetology” in the title. They studied biology, zoology, or wildlife science, then built a specialty in reptiles and amphibians through fieldwork and research. 

Becoming a herpetologist comes down to a few decisions: which bachelor’s degree to start with, how early to get into the field, and whether your goals call for graduate school. Unity Environmental University’s Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation is one starting point built around that foundation, with coursework in ecology, wildlife genetics, and population management delivered through remote learning.

What Is a Herpetologist and What Do They Do?

Merriam-Webster defines herpetology as a branch of zoology that focuses specifically on reptiles and amphibians. Therefore, a herpetologist is a scientist who studies and specializes in herpetology, often focusing on wildlife conservation and preserving these animals’ local habitats.

The animals themselves are often grouped under one word, herpetofauna, or “herps” for short. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) treats herpetology as a specialty within zoology, alongside fields like ornithology and mammalogy, which is why most herpetology careers sit inside broader wildlife biology, conservation, and research roles.

Day-to-day work depends heavily on the employer, and many herpetologists split their weeks between field sites and a lab or office. Common responsibilities include:

• Research: studying reptile and amphibian behavior, genetics, and population changes over time, including inventorying local populations and identifying ecological issues that could affect their health and survival
• Collections: cataloging and documenting specimens and samples, often alongside researchers and museum curators who use them for conservation and education
• Field surveys: environmental impact studies and population monitoring for wildlife agencies, consulting firms, and conservation organizations working to protect local reptile and amphibian populations
• Animal care: husbandry, enrichment, breeding programs, and public education for the reptiles and amphibians housed at zoos and aquariums

Where Herpetologists Work

Government agencies employ most of the people in this field. BLS employment data for zoologists and wildlife biologists, the group herpetologists fall under, shows how those jobs were split in 2025: 

Employer Type	Share of Jobs
Government (federal, state, and local)	66%
Management, scientific, and technical consulting	10%
Social advocacy organizations	7%
Research and development in the life sciences	3%
State colleges and universities	3%

On the government side, that usually means a state wildlife agency or a federal employer like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In academia, herpetologists tend to split their time between research and teaching. Natural history museums, zoos, and aquariums also hire herpetologists, though some of those roles are classified under curator or animal care titles rather than zoologist.

How to Become a Herpetologist

The path usually follows four steps, and the first two tend to overlap more than people expect:

1. Earn a Science Bachelor’s Degree

Educational requirements for herpetologist jobs may vary based on the position, job responsibilities, and hiring organization. According to the BLS, a bachelor’s degree is the typical entry-level requirement for zoologists and wildlife biologists. Higher-level positions may require a master’s degree, and leading independent research typically requires a Ph.D.

Those interested in herpetology often choose a bachelor’s degree program with a science focus. For example, you may choose to pursue an undergraduate degree in biology, wildlife conservation, or zoology. Plan on math and statistics too, since BLS notes that science programs in this field commonly include them to build data analysis skills.

2. Build Field Experience While You Study

Field experience is what turns a biology student into a herpetology candidate, and it rarely waits until after graduation. BLS notes that students in this field commonly gain practical experience through internships, volunteer work, or other employment during college. For herpetology specifically that might look like:

• Amphibian call surveys or turtle monitoring with a state wildlife agency or nature center
• A seasonal field technician position on a university or agency research project
• Volunteer or internship work in the reptile and amphibian department of a zoo or aquarium
• Research studies with experienced herpetologists, which show you how field studies and environmental impact studies are designed so you can create your own in the future

Collaborating with wildlife management professionals early also helps you decide which corner of the field you want to work in, making your next decision much easier.

3. Decide Whether You Need a Graduate Degree

A graduate degree serves specific goals rather than every herpetology career. In many cases, field technician, environmental consulting, and zoo positions are open to candidates with a bachelor’s degree and strong field experience. Designing your own studies, managing a conservation program, or holding a senior agency biologist role more often calls for a master’s degree, and university faculty and independent research positions typically require a Ph.D.

Very few master’s programs focus on herpetology alone, so many students choose a master’s degree in ecology, zoology, biology, or wildlife management and center their research on reptiles or amphibians. Unity’s MS in Wildlife Ecology and Management is one remote example, built around research design, quantitative methods, and wildlife ecology.

4. Specialize and Build Your Network

Most herpetologists choose a specialty area that aligns with their personal interests and complements their existing educational background, such as amphibian disease, sea turtle conservation, venomous snake research, or the herpetofauna of a particular region.

One of the best ways to uncover herpetologist jobs near you is to focus on building your professional network. You can start building your professional network during your undergraduate studies by connecting with instructors who may be experts in herpetology or wildlife management. From there, you can keep building your network by pursuing internships, joining industry organizations, attending herpetology or zoology conventions, and participating in field studies in your local area. Professional groups such as the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) publish research journals and hold meetings where you can meet the researchers behind the projects you want to join.

Skills Herpetologists Use

Knowledge and understanding are the foundation for any career in science. You’ll want to focus on developing the practical, technical, and soft skills needed to succeed. Some of the top skills required of herpetologists include:

• Communication skills: You will need to develop expert written and verbal communication skills to write reports and deliver presentations.
• Organizational skills: You must stay organized as you collect data during your field studies and environmental impact studies.
• Data collection and analysis skills: During your research, you will need to know how to harvest accurate data and analyze it to gain actionable insights about the populations of reptiles and amphibians in your area.
• Mapping and modeling skills: Professionals in this field use geographic information systems (GIS) and modeling software to estimate populations, track animal movement, and forecast disease spread, according to the BLS.
• Outdoor and field skills: Herpetologists researching snakes may spend significant time in deserts or forests, and some field jobs expect you to operate a boat or all-terrain vehicle in remote areas.

Do You Need a Herpetology Degree?

Dedicated herpetology majors are rare, and you don’t need one to work in the field. In general, you won’t need a bachelor’s degree in herpetology, since your undergraduate program should focus on broad scientific knowledge and help you develop the research skills needed in scientific fields.

SSAR’s career guidance recommends a biology major with coursework in chemistry, math, and statistics. It also suggests looking for a school that offers a course in herpetology or vertebrate zoology, or has faculty conducting herpetological research. Since the degree name won’t tell you much, ask these questions when you compare programs: 

• Does the curriculum cover ecology, genetics, and population management, the sciences behind most reptile and amphibian research?
• Is statistics required rather than optional?
• Can you fit internships or seasonal field jobs around your courses?
• Will your credits support a master’s degree later if you decide to go further?

The Unity program covers ecology, wildlife conservation genetics, population management, and statistics for wildlife professionals. If you are weighing a broader route, how to become a wildlife biologist covers a closely related path.

Herpetologist Salary and Job Outlook

The BLS counts herpetologists with zoologists and wildlife biologists, and that group earned a median annual wage of $76,780 in May 2025. The bottom 10% earned less than $49,100, and the top 10% earned more than $126,440.

Pay also depends on who you work for. Here are the May 2025 medians by employer type:

Employer Type	Median Annual Wage, May 2025
Management, scientific, and technical consulting	$84,570
Research and development in the life sciences	$84,110
Government	$78,650
State colleges and universities	$78,630
Social advocacy organizations	$56,700

Most herpetology careers start in support roles and build toward a scientist’s title over time. Here’s how pay compares across three common roles, from early-career positions to established research work:

Role	Median Annual Wage, May 2025
Agency or research herpetologist	$76,780
Lab technician on a research project	$57,510
Reptile keeper or zookeeper	$35,530

Employment of zoologists and wildlife biologists is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year. BLS also notes that much of the funding for these jobs comes from federal, state, and local government so budgets can limit hiring. Early field experience and a strong network matter most in a field where openings follow funding.

Start Your Herpetology Path at Unity Environmental University

Every path into herpetology starts in the same place: a science degree you can actually finish. Unity Environmental University’s BS in Wildlife Conservation builds that science foundation through remote learning designed for the life you’re already living. The 120-credit program runs up to eight terms a year, accepts up to 90 transfer credits, and keeps Distance Education tuition locked through 2030.

Request information about the program, and a Distance Education concierge will help you plan your first term and your transfer credits.