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Temporary Animal Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Woodland Park Zoo

Animal Keeper (Various)

Seattle, WA · On-site

$38.25/hr

Temporary, full-time, and part-time opportunities may be available UNION: Represented OPENINGS: Ongoing pool for current and future vacancies LOCATION: Onsite DEPARTMENT: Animal Management CARE FOR ...

NCSU

Animal Care Technician

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$13.75 - $18.50/hr

Position Information Posting Number PG194972TM Position Number 19PLS05612 Position Type Temporary Essential Job Duties Animal Care/Maintenance Technician needed to provide direct daily care to ...

Personal Genome Diagnostics

Animal Technician

Madison, WI · On-site

$18 - $19/hr

Animal Technician Labcorp is a leader in diagnostics, drug development and healthcare innovation ... Employees regularly scheduled to work less than 20 hours, Casual, Intern, and Temporary employees ...

Labcorp

Animal Technician

Madison, WI

$18 - $19/hr

The Animal Technician plays a critical role in supporting research by providing daily care ... Employees regularly scheduled to work less than 20 hours, Casual, Intern, and Temporary employees ...

Labcorp

Animal Technician

Madison, WI

$18/hr

The Animal Technician plays a critical role in supporting research by providing daily care ... Employees regularly scheduled to work less than 20 hours, Casual, Intern, and Temporary employees ...

The University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL · On-site

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

The University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL · On-site

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

The University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL · On-site

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL · On-site

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL · On-site

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

The University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL · On-site

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

ASPCA

$25/hr

Temporary Role Details: This is a temporary, contingent position and the person hired will be ... Animal Management and Transport (50%) Manage onsite loading and unloading of dogs and cats on ...

University of Miami

Animal Care Technician

Miami, FL · On-site

$18.56 - $22/hr

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click ... CORE JOB SUMMARY The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for various species of animals.

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsAnimal JobsTemporary Animal Jobs

Temporary Animal information

See salary details

$9

$21

$27

How much do temporary animal jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for temporary animal in the United States is $21.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a temporary animal caretaker, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Temporary Animal Caretaker, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, experience handling animals, and basic knowledge of animal health and safety. Familiarity with animal management systems, basic veterinary tools, and cleaning equipment is often required. Strong attention to detail, reliability, and compassion for animals are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the well-being of animals, maintain facility standards, and support efficient daily operations in animal care environments.

What is the difference between Temporary Animal vs Animal Care Technician?

AspectTemporary AnimalAnimal Care Technician
CredentialsNone required, short-term trainingHigh school diploma or equivalent, often certification in animal care
Work EnvironmentTemporary shelters, clinics, or research facilitiesAnimal shelters, veterinary clinics, research labs
Employer & Industry UsageTemporary staffing agencies, research institutionsAnimal shelters, veterinary practices, research organizations
Common Search & ComparisonTemporary Animal vs Animal Care Technician

Temporary Animals are short-term roles often filled through staffing agencies, focusing on immediate needs in shelters or labs. Animal Care Technicians are more permanent, trained professionals responsible for daily animal care. The main difference lies in duration, credentials, and job stability.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in temporary animal care roles?

Individuals working in temporary animal care positions often encounter challenges such as quickly adapting to new work environments and animal care protocols. Since these roles may involve short-term assignments, building rapport with animals and integrating into existing teams can require strong communication and adaptability skills. Additionally, managing varying workloads and learning facility-specific procedures on the fly are common aspects. Staying flexible and maintaining a high standard of animal welfare are key to success in these dynamic roles.

What is a temporary animal?

Temporary animal jobs are short-term positions that involve working with animals in various settings, such as shelters, zoos, veterinary clinics, or wildlife rehabilitation centers. These roles can include animal caretakers, veterinary assistants, dog walkers, or animal trainers hired for a specific period or project. Temporary animal jobs are ideal for those seeking hands-on experience, seasonal work, or a flexible schedule while working with animals. They often provide valuable exposure to animal care practices and can be a stepping stone to permanent positions in the animal care field.
What cities are hiring for Temporary Animal jobs? Cities with the most Temporary Animal job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animal jobs? The most popular types of Animal jobs are:
What states have the most Temporary Animal jobs? States with the most job openings for Temporary Animal jobs include:
Temporary Animal jobs near you
Infographic showing various Temporary Animal job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,783 per year, or $21 per hour.

Animal Keeper (Various)

Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle, WA • On-site

$38.25/hr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Woodland Park Zoo rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 37 rated wildlife parks and zoos

Job description

Title: Animal Keeper
SALARY & FLSA: The starting rate for this role is $33.49 per hour. Every employee under the Joint Crafts Council wage scale, on first appointment, will receive the first step of the salary range for the position. Employees will advance to the second step at the start of the pay period after their one-year anniversary in the job classification and each milestone thereafter (3 years, 6 years, 11 years, and 17 years of service) with Step 6, $38.25 per hour being the maximum pay rate.
OPENING DATE: 8/4/2026
CLOSING DATE: 8/25/2026
JOB TYPE: Temporary, full-time, and part-time opportunities may be available
UNION: Represented
OPENINGS: Ongoing pool for current and future vacancies
LOCATION: Onsite
DEPARTMENT: Animal Management
CARE FOR ANIMALS. INSPIRE PEOPLE. SUPPORT CONSERVATION.
Woodland Park Zoo is a one-of-a-kind urban oasis where people connect with wildlife, learn about the natural world, and discover how everyday choices can support conservation. Each year, more than 1.3 million guests visit the zoo to experience animals, habitats, education programs, and conservation stories that inspire curiosity and action. As a member of our animal care team, you help bring that mission to life through attentive daily care, collaboration, guest engagement, and a shared commitment to saving wildlife and inspiring everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.
WHO YOU ARE
As an Animal Keeper, you may support a variety of animal areas depending on operational needs, staffing coverage, and your experience. You are successful in this role because you are a:
  • Dependable Animal Caregiver: You are attentive to animals' daily needs, routines, and surroundings, and you take pride in providing consistent, thoughtful care each day.
  • Collaborative Teammate: You work well with others, follow established protocols, and support safe, reliable coverage across teams, schedules, and animal areas.
  • Conservation Educator: You enjoy connecting guests with animals and sharing conservation messages that inspire empathy, curiosity, and action.
  • Flexible Learner: You are open to developing skills with different taxa, assignments, and routines, and you adapt to changing animal care and operational needs.

YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Animal Keepers may be assigned to different animal areas and schedules based on business needs. Responsibilities may include:
  • Provide daily animal care, including cleaning, disinfecting, diet preparation, feeding, watering, animal observations, and habitat maintenance.
  • Assess animal health, behavior, welfare, and safety daily; report abnormal conditions or behavior patterns promptly to managers, curators, and veterinary staff.
  • Maintain accurate animal records and logs, including observations, diets, medications, training progress, enrichment, and other required documentation.
  • Support preventive health care and prescribed treatment plans, including medication administration, physical exams, quarantine procedures, and veterinary support activities.
  • Participate in animal training, enrichment, behavioral husbandry, capture, restraint, transport, and emergency response activities using established safety protocols.
  • Collaborate with animal care, veterinary, horticulture, maintenance, operations, education, conservation, and guest-facing teams to support safe, high-quality animal care and guest experiences.
  • Provide animal information and conservation messages through public presentations, keeper talks, guest interactions, media opportunities, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
  • Support exhibit repairs, modifications, animal moves, and exhibit design or implementation projects as assigned.
  • Develop proficiency in multiple animal areas when needed to support coverage, animal welfare, and operational continuity.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a life sciences field from an accredited four-year college or university; and two (2) years of professional experience directly caring for animals in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife park, or managed zoological collection.
  • Prefer paid zoo animal keeping experience for two (2) years at an AZA facility.
  • Ability to perform physical work in indoor and outdoor environments and lift up to 50 pounds as needed.
  • Ability to work a variety of shifts, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and schedule changes based on animal care and operational needs.
  • Successful applicants must live and work in Washington State to perform this role.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Washington driver's license with a safe driving history.

BENEFITS
Woodland Park Zoo offers benefits and perks that may vary by employment classification, schedule, and eligibility.
SELECTION PROCESS
Application: This posting may be used to fill temporary, full-time, part-time, current, and future Animal Keeper vacancies. The zoo may review existing application pools to fill this position or use this pool to fill future vacancies.
At Woodland Park Zoo, we believe a thriving workplace reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and are committed to equitable employment opportunities. Candidates will be considered based on their qualifications, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, veteran status, political affiliation, or other protected status. We especially encourage individuals from historically underrepresented communities and those with diverse lived experiences to apply.
Woodland Park Zoo is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in all its services. If you need accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact our recruiting team at careers@zoo.org.
Screening: We will review applications for the skills, experience, availability, and qualifications that best match current and future animal care needs. Selected candidates may be invited for screening calls, skills-based interviews, virtual or in-person interviews, and reference checks.
Offer: Job offers are contingent on verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including completion of a background check. This role may also require a driving record review, pre-employment physical, tuberculosis test, or other job-related screenings based on the assignment.
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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