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Internship Zoo Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Volunteer Management Intern - Fall 2026

Dallas, TX · On-site

$14.75 - $19.75/hr

Description The Dallas Zoo College Internship Program provides a learning opportunity for currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited college/university in the United ...

One year of experience in animal care in a zoo setting or under the direction of a licensed veterinarian is required, which may be gained through internships, volunteer experience, or employment.

Assumes select supervisory duties in the absence of Zoo Supervisors. * Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of ...

Assumes select supervisory duties in the absence of Zoo Supervisors. * Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of ...

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Internship Zoo information

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How much do internship zoo jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship zoo in the United States is $15.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.50 and $17.55 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Internship Zoo job?

An Internship Zoo job is a temporary position at a zoo where interns gain hands-on experience working with animals, assisting zookeepers, and learning about animal care, conservation, and zoo operations. Responsibilities may include feeding animals, cleaning enclosures, observing animal behavior, and educating visitors. These internships provide valuable experience for those pursuing careers in zoology, veterinary medicine, or wildlife conservation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Internship Zoo position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Zoo Intern, you should have a strong interest in animal care, basic knowledge of biology or zoology, and be pursuing or have completed relevant coursework in animal sciences or related fields. Experience with animal husbandry tools, safety equipment, and familiarity with record-keeping systems or animal management software is often beneficial. Excellent communication, teamwork, reliability, and a willingness to learn are valuable soft skills for this position. These skills are essential to ensure both the welfare of the animals and effective collaboration with zookeepers and other staff members in a fast-paced environment.

What kind of responsibilities and daily tasks can I expect as a Zoo Intern?

As a Zoo Intern, your typical responsibilities may include assisting with animal feeding, cleaning enclosures, preparing enrichment activities, and helping staff observe animal behavior and health. You may also support educational programs, answer guest questions, and perform basic administrative tasks related to animal care. Interns often rotate through different sections of the zoo to gain a broad understanding of zoo operations and animal management. This hands-on experience not only helps develop critical animal care skills but also offers opportunities to interact closely with experienced professionals, preparing you for future roles in animal care or wildlife management.

More about Internship Zoo jobs
What cities are hiring for Internship Zoo jobs? Cities with the most Internship Zoo job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Zoo jobs? The most popular types of Zoo jobs are:
What states have the most Internship Zoo jobs? States with the most job openings for Internship Zoo jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Internship Zoo jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Internship Zoo jobs are:
Infographic showing various Internship Zoo job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% Internship, 73% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $32,333 per year, or $15.5 per hour.

Childern's Zoo Intern-Temporary Full-Time

SFZOO

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$19.61/hr

Full-time, Temporary, Internship

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 3 days ago


Job description

Children's Zoo Temporary One-Year Full-Time Intern

Period of time for temporary position: (40 hours/week, may include working one weekend day, holidays, and occasional evenings)

The San Francisco Zoological Society ("Society") is a non-profit institution that manages and raises funds for San Francisco Zoo and Gardens ("Zoo"). The Society's mission, supra, is summarized as the 3 c's: to connect our visitors with wildlife so that they care about nature and ultimately conserve it. The Society's leadership team is comprised of a President & Executive Director as well as a professional team of Senior Managers. The Society endeavors to meet or exceed the standards of its industry peers, including those established by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums ("AZA"). For over 25 years, the Society has been continuously accredited by the AZA.

The San Francisco Zoo's Intern Program offers a hands-on working experience to individuals with a career interest in a zoological field. The objective of the Zoo's internship program is to provide practical, on-the-job experience; provide exposure to zoo operations and zoo careers; and demonstrate the unique advantages of zoo internships as a supplement to more conventional learning programs. Full-time zoo employees supervise interns. Internships are paid an internship salary of $19.61/hour plus medical, dental, & vision benefits, one-week paid vacation, and sick leave per San Francisco's Sick Leave Ordinance.

The goal of this internship is to learn and successfully perform (under supervision) the duties and responsibilities of a Zoo employee in the Children's Zoo. Experience will include:

Assist with the public education programs

Assist with volunteer programs: recruitment, orientation, and works with scheduling, training, daily supervision.

Assist keeper staff with animal care husbandry, diet and veterinary care of the large and diverse animal collection within the Children's Zoo

Completion of special projects as assigned by Curators as well as one project designed by the intern that advances animal wellness in the Children's Zoo

Assist staff with animal enrichment and training programs

Support facility management and administration

Qualifications: College level coursework in biology, zoology, ecology, or related area; ability to present information to groups; and career interest working with animals. Excellent public speaking skills and be comfortable in front of a large audience, as well as the ability and desire to work with youth volunteers and people of all ages and backgrounds. Must be self-motivated, able to take initiative, and follow directions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Qualifications: All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Education: High school diploma or general education degree (GED).

Physical Demands/Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit, reach with hands and arms, and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to tolerate outside weather conditions including inclement weather and must be able tolerate dust, and animal hair/dander.

Salary: $19.61/hour

The San Francisco Zoo encourages bilingual candidates to apply. EOE

Application: Application: Please apply via our web site at:

https://candidate.offerdox.com/clients/c32a6703-4c9c-4d70-b296-b438a4f2cf91/jobs/

Please include a resume and a cover letter detailing your experience as it relates to this position.

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