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Animal Care Internship Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Work-Trade Animal Care Intern

Laupahoehoe, HI · On-site

$14.25 - $19.50/hr

We are looking for interns with prior animal experience who are committed to the full time animal care position for at least three (3) months to ensure you have time to get oriented, get to know and ...

.org/advisors

Work-Trade Animal Care Intern

Laupahoehoe, HI · On-site

$14.25 - $19.50/hr

We are looking for interns with prior animal experience who are committed to the full time animal care position for at least three (3) months to ensure you have time to get oriented, get to know and ...

Dallas Zoo

General Application - Animal Care

Dallas, TX

$15.50 - $21/hr

Summary Are you passionate about animal care, welfare, and conservation? Submit your application ... internships, agriculture, and/or military service. Whether you're an experienced keeper or just ...

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How much do animal care internship jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal care internship in the United States is $19.34, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.38 and $21.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal care internship?

An Animal Care Internship is a hands-on training program designed for students or individuals interested in working with animals. Interns assist with day-to-day animal care tasks such as feeding, cleaning enclosures, monitoring health, and sometimes helping with enrichment activities. These internships are typically offered by zoos, animal shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and veterinary clinics. They provide valuable experience for those pursuing careers in animal science, veterinary medicine, or wildlife conservation. Interns gain practical skills, industry knowledge, and professional connections that can help with future job opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal care intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Care Intern, you need a basic understanding of animal behavior, health, and handling techniques, often supported by coursework in animal science or biology. Familiarity with animal care protocols, cleaning procedures, and record-keeping systems is typically expected. Strong observational skills, attention to detail, and a compassionate, team-oriented attitude help interns excel in this role. These skills ensure the well-being of animals and contribute to efficient, safe, and supportive care environments.

What are some common challenges interns face during an animal care internship, and how can they be addressed?

Animal Care Interns often face challenges such as adapting to physically demanding tasks, managing emotional responses to animal health issues, and learning to work efficiently within a team of professionals. It's important to be prepared for early mornings, repetitive duties like cleaning enclosures, and following strict safety protocols. Building resilience, asking questions, and seeking feedback from experienced staff can help interns overcome these challenges while gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field.
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Animal Care Internship jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Care Internship job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,232 per year, or $19.3 per hour.

Unpaid Animal Care Internship - Northwest Passage/Teton Trek

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN • On-site

$13.25 - $17.75/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

Animal Care Internship - Northwest Passage & Teton Trek
Species: Polar bears, black bears, grizzly bears, California sea lions, gray wolves, American elk, North American porcupine, bald eagles, and a variety of waterfowl.
Interns work directly with animal care staff to gain firsthand experience of all aspects of animal husbandry including diet prep, enclosure maintenance, training, enrichment, guest interactions and more. The goal of the program is to provide college students (or recent graduates) with pre-professional career experience through hands-on experiential learning opportunities.
This internship is unpaid but housing may be available seasonally. The program spans 10-12 weeks and participants will be scheduled up to 40hrs per week. Spring internships begin in January and end in May (deadline for application is due Nov 15). Summer internships will begin in May and end in August (deadline for application March 1). Fall internships begin in August and end in December (deadline for application due July 1). Selected participants must successfully complete a background check and TB test.
Intern duties will vary upon season and departmental needs, but could include:
  • Assisting staff in all aspects of animal care including, but not limited to, diet preparation, exhibit cleaning/disinfection, maintenance, training and enrichment, record keeping, and guest interactions. Contact with class one animals is minimal and directly supervised.
  • Actively observing animal's behavior
  • Facilitates formal and informal public presentations to engage guests and provide a positive guest experience.
  • Assisting with the production of special events, animal celebrations, and awareness days
  • Maintaining animal areas, work areas, and all resources in a clean, organized manner
  • Completes a special project covering observations, research, enrichment or another area of interest.

Qualifications:
  • Must be a dependable, hard-working college student or recent graduate with an interest in the fields of education, interpretation, environmental science, biology, zoology, or zoo management or might be considering a change of career.
  • Must be able to work between 24-40 hours per week for 10-12 weeks.
  • Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
  • Must demonstrate enthusiasm and good judgement while working with children and zoo guests.
  • Must demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to follow directions.

Beneficial Skills:
  • Proficiency in Office 365, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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