ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Exotic Animal Care Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Tufts University

Animal Care Attendant

North Grafton, MA · On-site

$18 - $23.90/hr

... exotic pets who are treated in our inpatient, outpatient and emergency services. What You'll Do The Animal Care Attendant is responsible for patient care and feeding general housekeeping and ...

Dancing Horses Theatre

Exotic Animal Intern

Delavan, WI · On-site

$13.50 - $18/hr

Some knowledge of all phases of exotic animal care. * 4-6 months commitment is preferred. Benefits: * A small financial stipend is offered based on your experience. * Must live on-site we offer FREE ...

Abqpetcarehospital

IL · On-site

$125 - $140/hr

This position focuses on canine and feline medicine while also embracing exotic animal care. With a new facility opening in March, there are exciting growth opportunities and responsibilities that ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAnimal JobsExotic Animal Care Jobs

Exotic Animal Care information

See salary details

$10

$18

$26

How much do exotic animal care jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for exotic animal care in the United States is $18.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $20.43 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is exotic animal care?

An Exotic Animal Care job involves providing medical treatment, daily care, and rehabilitation for non-domestic animals, such as reptiles, birds, and wild mammals. Professionals in this field work in zoos, wildlife rehabilitation centers, veterinary clinics, and research facilities. Responsibilities may include feeding, monitoring health, assisting veterinarians, and educating the public about exotic species. This role requires specialized knowledge of diverse animal behaviors, diets, and medical needs. Training or certification in exotic animal handling and veterinary care is often required.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in exotic animal care?

To thrive in Exotic Animal Care, you need hands-on animal handling experience, a solid understanding of biology or zoology, and often a relevant degree or certification in animal care or veterinary technology. Common tools and systems include animal restraint equipment, medical monitoring devices, and specialized record-keeping software; certifications like Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) can be required. Strong observation skills, patience, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork set professionals apart in this field. These skills ensure the safety and health of exotic animals, support smooth team operations, and foster successful daily management within specialized care environments.

What are some typical challenges faced when working in exotic animal care?

Exotic Animal Care professionals often face unique challenges such as handling unpredictable animal behaviors, meeting the specialized dietary and habitat needs of diverse species, and responding to medical emergencies that may arise unexpectedly. Adapting quickly to each animal’s unique requirements and collaborating with veterinarians or other specialists are key aspects of the role. Additionally, maintaining accurate health and enrichment records while upholding safety regulations can be demanding. However, these challenges offer rewarding opportunities to learn continuously and make a meaningful impact on animal welfare.

How do you become an exotic animal care professional?

To become an exotic animal care professional, individuals typically need a background in animal science, biology, or a related field, along with hands-on experience working with exotic animals. Certification programs and specialized training in exotic animal handling and care can enhance job prospects, and employers often seek candidates with strong observational skills and knowledge of species-specific needs.

What is a high paying job that works with exotic animals?

A high-paying job working with exotic animals is often found in specialized roles such as exotic animal veterinarians or zoo curators, which require advanced degrees and certifications. These positions typically involve working in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, or research facilities and may offer salaries exceeding $70,000 annually depending on experience and location.
More about Exotic Animal Care jobs

What cities are hiring for Exotic Animal Care jobs?

Cities with the most Exotic Animal Care job openings:

What states have the most Exotic Animal Care jobs?

States with the most job openings for Exotic Animal Care jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Exotic Animal Care jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Exotic Animal Care jobs are:

Exotic Animal Care jobs near you
Infographic showing various Exotic Animal Care job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,056 per year, or $18.3 per hour.

Animal Care Attendant

North Grafton, MA • On-site

Tufts University
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 1 - 5K employees

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

103rd of 623 rated colleges and universities

Good employer

Respectful managers

Good training

Learn more about Tufts Universityexternal

$18 - $23.90/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago

Job description

Overview
The Animal Care service supports the Foster Hospital for Small Animal's mission by providing general housekeeping services ensuring care, cleanliness, and comfort for all the dogs, cats and exotic pets who are treated in our inpatient, outpatient and emergency services.
What You'll Do
The Animal Care Attendant is responsible for patient care and feeding general housekeeping and maintenance of the clinical space in the Small Animal Hospital. The Animal Care Attendants provide assistance to the Veterinary Technicians in completing daily treatments.
  • Patient Care
    • Provide high quality patient care to include the following:
    • Provide patients with food and water as ordered by clinician.
    • Assist technicians in completing patient treatments while demonstrating proper animal handling and humane restraint techniques, basic and species-specific husbandry techniques and proper daily care of medical equipment.
    • Clean and maintain cages and clinical spaces.
    • Clean and stock patient care areas and food room.
    • Clean and maintain dog walk areas.
    • Provide laundry service.
    • Assist with proper disposition of patient remains including preparation of clay paws and proper preparation of a body (including tags) for disposition.
  • Patient Transport
    • Responsibilities include:
    • Assist with patient visits.
    • Assist with patient drop offs and discharges.
    • Transport patients between services within the Hospital.
    • Transport deceased patients to mortuary room.
  • Miscellaneous
    • Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

The schedule for this position will be Wednesday - Saturday 2pm-11:15pm
What We're Looking For
Basic Requirements:
Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:
  • One year of related experience.
  • The following required knowledge and skills as typically acquired by completing a High School degree or equivalent experience.
  • Ability to effectively work as a member of a team.
  • Pride in maintaining assigned areas in a hospital environment.
  • Basic computer skills including the ability to learn the electronic medical record system.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Associate's Degree or Vocational/technical training preferred with one or more years of experience.
  • Knowledge of animal behavior, restraint, feeding and basic sanitation.
  • Exotic animal handling skills. Exotic animals include birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, rodents, special small mammals (such as chinchillas or hedgehogs), reptiles, and amphibians. For Animal Care Attendants working primarily with the Zoological Companion Animal (ZCAM) program, exotic animal handling skills are required.

Pay Range
Minimum $18.00, Midpoint $21.00, Maximum $23.90
Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

What Tufts University employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply