Salary: Median—$14 per hour
Employment Outlook: Good
Definition and Nature of the Work
Zookeepers take care of some of the largest and smallest creatures in captivity, from African elephants to Amazonian frogs. Depending on the zoological park or aquarium in which they work, keepers may be assigned to care for a broad group of animals such as mammals, birds, or reptiles, or they may work with a more specific collection of animals such as primates or large cats.
Zookeepers prepare balanced diets for the animals in their care. Many animals, especially the more exotic breeds, eat only certain foods; for example, koalas eat only the leaves of eucalyptus trees. In addition to preparing the animals' meals, zookeepers feed the animals, which can be a complicated undertaking: some can be fed only in the daytime while others must be fed at night. The animals must be fed every day, so keepers frequently work on weekends and holidays. The responsibilities of zookeepers also include watering, bathing, and exercising the animals, and cleaning, disinfecting, and repairing their cages or tanks.
Because zookeepers spend so much time with the animals, they can provide zoo managers with valuable information on animal behavior, interactions, health concerns, environmental factors, and conservation efforts. Keepers must be well informed so they can answer questions from zoo visitors.
Zookeepers are employed at all sizes of zoos, aquariums, and wildlife refuges throughout the country. They work alongside animal curators, veterinarians, and resident zoologists.
Animal curators are scientists in charge of the animals. With the help of zookeepers, they shift animals from one location to another, moving tigers to winter quarters, placing an ape in a new home, or giving a lioness and her cubs the privacy they need. They encourage breeding, apply medicines, and study animal behavior.
To keep the animals healthy, zoo veterinarians spend a lot of time practicing preventive medicine. They are faced with very special challenges because little is known about the diseases of some species. Sometimes zoo vets have to develop their own treatments.
Resident zoologists are also animal scientists, and their work frequently overlaps with that of curators and veterinarians. Some zoologists are in charge of the educational aspects of the zoo such as preparing descriptions of animals or designing habitats that simulate those found in nature.
Education and Training Requirements
While many zookeepers get their start by volunteering at a zoo, the entry-level keeper position usually requires an associate's degree or, more often, a bachelor's degree. Training in animal science, zoology, conservation biology, wildlife management, or animal behavior is preferred. Caretakers for marine mammals such as seals may need a degree in animal science, biology, marine biology, zoology, psychology, or a related field, plus strong swimming skills and SCUBA certification. To work in zoos or aquariums that are operated by the local government, candidates may have to pass a civil service exam. Curators, zoologists, and veterinarians are expected to have advanced degrees.
Getting the Job
Interested candidates can gain valuable experience in the field by serving as a zoo volunteer, a humane society volunteer, or a veterinary worker. Prospective zookeepers should apply directly to the personnel departments of various zoos. School placement offices, online zoological Web sites, and professional journals also list job openings.
Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook
According to the American Association of Zoo Keepers, some applicants for zookeeper jobs "may become frustrated over the initial difficulty in entering the animal care profession. [However,] the future for careers in zoo work continues to expand and is promising for both men and women." Chances for advancement to managerial positions is possible but rather limited. Zookeepers may be promoted to the post of senior keeper, assistant head keeper, head keeper, or assistant curator. With additional education zookeepers may become curators, veterinarians, or zoologists. A zookeeper may also advance by moving to a larger zoo. The number of zoos in the United States is not expected to increase greatly in the near future, so stiff competition will exist for all zoo positions.
Working Conditions
Zookeepers do not have glamorous, high-paying jobs; they enter the field because of their love for animals. Much of their work requires physical strength, patience with the animals, and the ability to make detailed observations and keep accurate records. Captive animals require attention twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so the hours can be long and exhausting. A special kind of dedication is needed to stay at a zoo through the night nursing a sick animal, or to get up in the middle of the night to meet a pair of rhinos arriving at the airport.
Animal odors and the smell of cleaning fluids may be disagreeable to some people. Having to euthanize old or sick animals can be emotionally stressful. However, most people who enter the profession love animals and receive great satisfaction from helping and working with them. In some places caretakers wear uniforms. Employers may provide uniforms or an allowance for their purchase and cleaning.
Earnings and Benefits
Considering the rigorous academic qualifications required, zookeeping is not a particularly high-paying profession. Curators, veterinarians, and zoologists earn considerably more than zookeepers, but these positions require even more years of study and higher degrees. Zookeepers with limited education and experience may start at little more than minimum wage. Online salary surveys indicate that the median salary for zookeepers is $14 per hour or $28,000 per year. If they invest in additional training, experienced zookeepers can make more than $40,000 per year, depending on the size of their zoo and where it is located. Typically, zoos in metropolitan areas pay the most. Benefits for full-time zookeepers usually include paid vacations, accident and health insurance, and retirement plans.
User Comments Add a comment…
2 days ago
This website is awesome! thanks
6 days ago
I have always felt a passion for animals of every sort. I want to work with animals more than anything. Working with animals may be smelly, exhuasting, and dirty, but it's so gratifying! I want to specialize in anything to do with avians, because my heart soars with them when they take flight.
23 days ago
I really want to work with animals and being a zoo keeper sounds like something id like but I'm still not 100% sure wat other careers have to do with working with animals and the full details on them. I hope I can decide wat will work for me.
about 1 month ago
The passion that I hold with potentially working alongside the world's most exotic and endangered animals runs right down to the core. I hope to one day work with Big Cats such as cheetah's and wish to become a member of the Cheetah De Wildt Program in Africa.
about 1 month ago
I am currently a high school volunteer at my zoo and I love it. Working at the zoo is only for certain people. You pick up poop almost continuous, it smells, it is dirty and most of all it is completely satisfying! I can't express how much I want to work at a zoo some day but if you want to be a zoo keeper some day start volunteering. Be a good volunteer and show that you can be trusted, being trusted as a volunteer will help you when you want a job because you will have good references from the keepers you volunteered for and they will want you. Just try your hardest and you can make it, but not with out hard work.
about 1 month ago
I have wanted to work beside animals as long as i can remember. I have had a dog-sitting and cat-sitting service and i love so many animals. Whenever i go to the zoo with my friends or family i always look at how elegant or graceful all of the animals are. My favorite type of animals would have to be the catagory of large or big cats. I went to the Bronx Zoo over the summer and i got to see a siberian tiger up close and she was so beautiful and i wish i could work with animals like that and others.
2 months ago
I have wanted to be a zookeeper or zoologist for as long as i can remember. It has been my dream and passion to work side by side with animals and dedicate my life to them. This page was incredibly usefull and helped me a lot. It is still hard for me to decide whether to be a zoologist or an elephant conservationist, because elephants are my main passion, but this page of information got me that much closer. Thank you.
4 months ago
I love animals my family calls me the Tree Hugger. I want to be a zookeeper and watch the Penguins and learn more about them. Your page helped me to learn what i need to do to become a zookeeper. Thanks
4 months ago
hey, i want to become a zoo keeper 2 but i want to know what math degrees you need. im great at my biology and english but im low down in the math department:( is math a major requirement for the job? i live on a farm (horses sheep etc) would this give me an advantage because i've worked with animals a lot or not??
4 months ago
I had to do a report on 3 careers, I was interested in. Being a zookeeper was one and this site gave me all the perfect info. Thanks
4 months ago
I had to do a report on a career I was interested in and this page was perfect for all the zookeeping info. Thanks
4 months ago
i luv animals they are the bomb and cute
4 months ago
i want to be a zookeeper when i grow up im doing a report on it nice info
5 months ago
this site is the beast thanks so much
5 months ago
Dogs and cats are the best! I'm going to specialize in large cats and wolves and animals related to dogs. Can't wait to learn more.
5 months ago
i like this website it tells me a lot about how to use a computer and a a technology person go computers u are fun!
5 months ago
I love animals this site is amazing iv been looking around for good information for a career in zookeeping and i definatly foud it !
5 months ago
I love animals!!! i want to be a zookeeper... but I didnt relly know what the job was like. This site RAWKS!!!
6 months ago
scine i was 4 year old i have wanted to be a vet. now i have decided to become a zoo keeper and work with the conservation of chimpanzees. i am 14 and currently volentreeing at an animal pound once a week. and volentreeing at a zoo twice a week in the holidays. i love it and i wont give up no matter how hard it is. does anyone know if you need to go through to year 12 to become a zoo kepper though?
6 months ago
I have always loved animals now even more since my dog Piper died three days after Christmas. so now and then I always wanted this job. See ya guys later bye.
6 months ago
I will go to do this job, but I need nore information such as Job Skills, Talents and experience,Typical Day Aptitude. It is a very good website though. I will go into this career. Thank You for your time and have a good day.....:):):):):):):):):)
6 months ago
well the other day i ran over an animal and got out and tryed to save it. Blood was going all over me. so now i want to be a zookeeper.
6 months ago
It takes alot more than a love of animals to succeed in the field. I have worked in the field for 6 years. You really do have to be good at science and have good reasoning skills. It is not just feeding and playing with animals. You have to know when to get them care and you have to deal with fecal matter. It is hard work and alot of times you will be called in during the middle of the night to take care of any situations. The pay is kind of middle of the road. But I will be honest, it is worth it, bt you have to be willing to get dirty and wake up in the night. And competition for the job is fierce. LOng gone are the days where volunteers can work their way to the top. I know people who have been working their way up for 15 years and they are blown out of the water by a 22 year old fresh out of college with a bio or zoology degree. It is really impressive and gives you a better cjance of landing the job if you have a degree, preferably a BS. But whatever you do, good luck. It is a really rewarding job. oh, and yes, biology is an excellent degree for zookeeping. zoology is just a more specific type of biology (animal biology). Oh, and you could really impress you employer by haveing a minor in something like animal science or wildlife management. There are numerous paths for this career. Good Luck!
6 months ago
i think i might be interested in this kind of job now
6 months ago
i love animals
6 months ago
I love animals so much i have 2 dogs and ilove them so much because it is still puppyes and the first one is called girly and spots is that coolor what
6 months ago
iwant to work as a zookeeper
6 months ago
i have been searching for the specific job that is right for me, and i think that this might be the one. i've worked at a zoo before, and i think that it is something that i would love to do for the rest of my life.
7 months ago
being a zookeeper sounds like alot of work! But hey! I love doing alot of work because I LOVE animals! I'll work at any zoo that is in great shape because then i'll know the animals are in great condition!!
7 months ago
I think animals are great and im gonnna be a zookeeper, WEE!
7 months ago
There are different majors that are recommended by different people (Biology and Zoology). Zoology's nice, but there's no college near me that has it. Is Biology still an acceptable degree for zookeeping?
7 months ago
.being a zookeeper seems alot of work but how do you do it?
8 months ago
I would like to be a zoo keeper but I don't know what types of animals I would want to help. If you become a zoo keeper do you get to chose your animals? Please reply by commet not email please. Thank you for your time.
about 1 year ago
Good honest introductory information!
about 1 year ago
what are the hours??? reply froggy_M_101@hotmail.com i just need to see the hours then i will probably accept the job!!YAY!!