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Internship Zoo Jobs (NOW HIRING)

houstonzoo

Zookeeper III, Elephants

Houston, TX

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 ...

John Ball Zoo

Senior Zookeeper - Area 2

Grand Rapids, MI

$20.62 - $24.03/hr

... and interns in the development of job skills related to daily animal care, and, under manager ... John Ball Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1983 which assures ...

Dallas Zoo

Senior Zoologist - Birds

Dallas, TX

Must be able to establish and maintain an effective rapport with all levels of management, employees, interns, volunteers, and zoo guests; Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in ...

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How much do internship zoo jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 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
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Internship Zoo jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Zoo job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 13% Full Time, 82% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $32,333 per year, or $15.5 per hour.

Pinniped Internship 2026

Columbus Zoo Family of Parks

Powell, OH • On-site

Internship

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Overview
The goal of this internship is to provide a basic understanding of general husbandry of the animals located in the Pinniped Depart-ments of Wild Encounters. Students will gain hands-on experience in the field while learning the day-to-day responsibilities of a full-time keeper.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to assisting full-time keepers in preparing animal diets, cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures and exhibits, observing animals and reporting any behavioral changes, designing and delivering educational in-terpretation to the general public regarding animal behavior, habitat and conservation issues, maintaining area grounds and build-ings and performing other duties as assigned. Interns will also be required to complete various quizzes, trainings, projects, and a final reflection paper assigned by the department.
Duties may include:
• Observes training sessions to gain a basic understanding of training fundamentals.
• Assists with Pinniped enrichment program as needed - cleaning, placement, removal of enrichment items.
• Adheres to all safety protocols within the Pinniped department and the Columbus Zoo.
Qualifications
• Student or recent graduate (2 years or less) in biology, zoology, psychology, or any similar related major.
• 3.0 or above accumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with all Columbus Zoo Family of Parks team members and contacts.
• Ability to work independently and effectively manage time.
• Ability to maintain courteous and helpful behavior.
• CPR/First Aid/AED certification preferred
• Strong computer skills. Experience with MS Office preferred.
• Must be neat in appearance and maintain courteous behavior at all times.
• Ability to work in all weather conditions (i.e. heat, cold, rain, snow).
• Ability to hold a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings and holidays (July 4th, Memorial Day, Columbus Day) required.
• Subject to Drug Free Workplace Policy.
• Subject to BMV check and Criminal Background check.
Hours: Minimum of 20 hours/week for 12 to 16 weeks
The RISE Scholarship, generously funded by Battelle, is now open! Eligible interns can apply for a $5,000 scholarship supporting hands-on, mission-driven internship experiences across the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds-applications are open May 1- June 30, 2026.
To Apply to the RISE Scholarship, please visit: https://www.columbuszoo.org/rise-scholarships

Apply