▲68%
The average hourly pay for a Zookeeper is $12.88.
10%
$9.47
MEDIAN
$12.88
90%
$19.37
Is Zookeeper your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
Hourly Rate
$9 - $19
Bonus
$100 - $4,421
Total Pay
$20,228 - $43,851
Find your market worth – how it works:
Tell us about your job and pay factors like skills and education
Find your market worth with a report tailored to you
Negotiate your pay with confidenceWhat Do Zookeepers Do?
Zookeeper Tasks
- Prepare animal diets according to prescription determined by Management.
- Follow American Zoo and Aquarium (AZA) Code of Professional Ethics and Species Survival Plan (SSP) Guidelines.
- Recommend improvements in animal care procedures and schedules.
- Recognize diseases and carry out treatments prescribed by zoo veterinarian and/or Management.
- Clean zoo exhibits and grounds and maintain general upkeep of the animal habitat.
Job Satisfaction for Zookeeper
Popular Employer Salaries for Zookeeper
Zookeeper Job Listings
Search for more jobs
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Zookeepers?
An entry-level Zookeeper with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $10.88 based on 20 salaries. An early career Zookeeper with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $11.77 based on 120 salaries. A mid-career Zookeeper with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $14.46 based on 48 salaries. An experienced Zookeeper with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $16.94 based on 44 salaries. In their late career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of $11.
Pay Difference by Location
Learn more about cost of living by city.
Employees with Zookeeper in their job title in Chicago, Illinois earn an average of 67.7% more than the national average. These job titles also find higher than average salaries in San Diego, California (66.3% more) and Houston, Texas (19.9% more). The lowest salaries can be found in Phoenix, Arizona (16.1% less), Orlando, Florida (12.9% less) and Tampa, Florida (10.8% less).
Years of Experience
This data is based on 237 survey responses.
Entry Level
8.4%
Early Career
50.6%
Mid Career
20.3%
Experienced
18.6%
Late Career
2.1%
