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Zoo Animal Keeper Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Woodland Park Zoo

Animal Keeper (Various)

Seattle, WA · On-site

$38.25/hr

Animal Keeper SALARY & FLSA: The starting rate for this role is $33.49 per hour. Every employee ... Woodland Park Zoo is a one-of-a-kind urban oasis where people connect with wildlife, learn about ...

Oglebay

Oglebay Good Zoo Animal Keeper 2

Wheeling, WV · On-site

$13 - $15/hr

Cleans and maintains animal habitats, service areas, and guest areas around and adjacent to ... Supervises and assigns work to zoo volunteers and interns scheduled in keeper's area of ...

Santa Barbara Zoo

Animal Keeper

Santa Barbara, CA · On-site

$23.90 - $26.30/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Santa Barbara Zoo is seeking a full-time Animal Keeper for our Animal Care and Health team. If you are a dedicated, passionate, and experienced individual with a strong commitment to animal care ...

Maryland Zoo

Animal Keeper 1 (African Watering Hole)

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$19.20/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Additionally, the Animal Keeper will support the Zoo's mission to save wildlife and protect wild places and contribute to its environmental, social, governance sustianability, conservation, education ...

Peoria Park District

Animal Keeper

Peoria, IL · On-site

$20.96/hr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Under the supervision of the Animal Curator, the Animal Keeper will be responsible for ... Care for the wild and domestic animals in the Zoo's collection. * Clean and disinfect displays and ...

Peoria Park District

Animal Keeper

Peoria, IL

$20.96/hr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Under the supervision of the Animal Curator, the Animal Keeper will be responsible for ... Care for the wild and domestic animals in the Zoo's collection. * Clean and disinfect displays and ...

County of Hawai`i

Zoo Animal Keeper II - BC-07

Hilo, HI · On-site

$65K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

There is one (1) immediate permanent full-time vacancy with the Department of Parks and Recreation - Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo. The eligible list may be used for other permanent and temporary ...

Peoria Park District

Animal Keeper Part Time

Peoria, IL · On-site

$16/hr

Caring for the wild and domestic animals in the Zoo's collection. * Cleaning and disinfecting ... and animal care. Participating in all aspects of kitchen * clean-up. * Keeping work areas and ...

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Zoo Animal Keeper information

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How much do zoo animal keeper jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for zoo animal keeper in the United States is $24.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $27.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a zoo animal keeper?

Zoo animal keepers are professionals responsible for the daily care and well-being of animals in zoos or wildlife parks. Their duties typically include feeding animals, cleaning enclosures, observing animal behavior, assisting with medical care, and providing environmental enrichment. Keepers also help educate the public about wildlife conservation and the animals under their care. This role requires a strong commitment to animal welfare, attention to detail, and often specialized knowledge of different species.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a zoo animal keeper?

To thrive as a Zoo Animal Keeper, you need a solid understanding of animal biology, behavior, and husbandry, often supported by a degree in zoology or related experience. Familiarity with animal care equipment, record-keeping systems, and sometimes certifications like AZA Professional Development courses are typical. Observation skills, teamwork, and strong communication are crucial soft skills for ensuring animal welfare and collaborating with colleagues. These abilities are vital for providing proper animal care, ensuring safety, and supporting conservation and education goals within the zoo environment.

What are some common challenges zoo animal keepers face in their daily work?

Zoo Animal Keepers often encounter challenges such as managing the physical demands of cleaning enclosures, preparing specialized diets, and maintaining animal enrichment activities. They must also be vigilant about animal health, quickly recognizing signs of illness or stress. Additionally, keepers regularly balance strict safety protocols with the need to build trust and rapport with a variety of species. Effective communication with veterinarians and other staff is essential to ensure the well-being of the animals.

What is the difference between Zoo Animal Keeper vs Zoo Veterinarian?

AspectZoo Animal KeeperZoo Veterinarian
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some positions may require animal care certificationsDoctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and state licensure
Work EnvironmentAnimal enclosures, zoo grounds, animal habitatsVeterinary clinics, animal habitats, zoo medical facilities
Employer & Industry UsageZoos, wildlife parks, animal sanctuariesZoos, wildlife parks, veterinary clinics within zoological settings
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding daily animal care rolesUnderstanding medical and health care responsibilities

The main difference between a Zoo Animal Keeper and a Zoo Veterinarian lies in their qualifications and responsibilities. Zoo Animal Keepers focus on daily animal care, feeding, and habitat maintenance, while Zoo Veterinarians diagnose and treat health issues. Both roles are essential in a zoo setting but require different levels of education and expertise.

More about Zoo Animal Keeper jobs

What cities are hiring for Zoo Animal Keeper jobs?

Cities with the most Zoo Animal Keeper job openings:

What states have the most Zoo Animal Keeper jobs?

States with the most job openings for Zoo Animal Keeper jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Zoo Animal Keeper jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Zoo Animal Keeper jobs are:

Zoo Animal Keeper jobs near you
Infographic showing various Zoo Animal Keeper job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,573 per year, or $24.3 per hour.

Animal Keeper (Various)

Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle, WA • On-site

$38.25/hr

Full-time

Posted 13 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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