An individual who feeds, monitors, cleans up after, and cares for animals kept in captivity, usually in public zoos, is referred to as a zookeeper. A zoo’s animal collections can range from a small group of very young domestic farm animals in a country petting zoo to large numbers of exotic animals, such as mammals, reptiles, fish, and even insects, in a city zoo. A zookeeper can care for all or a portion of the animals, such as big cats like lions, tigers, and cheetahs, or even a single species, depending on the size of the zoo. At larger zoos, curators or collection specialists supervise zookeepers, and most zookeeper positions require a two- or four-year degree as well as experience gained through work, internships, or volunteering. The size and location of the zoo, the zookeeper’s educational background, his years of experience in the field, the animals held within the zoo, and the scope of his responsibility are all factors that affect a zookeeper’s salary.
The size of the zoo where a zookeeper works is one of the most important factors affecting his salary. Zoos in large cities tend to have more full-time positions and higher salaries than zoos in small towns. A zookeeper’s salary in the United States can vary depending on the region of the country where the zoo is located. A zookeeper’s salary in the West and Northeast is typically higher than someone in the Midwest or South in the same position.
A zookeeper’s salary and assigned positions are also influenced their educational background. Employees with a four-year bachelor’s degree in related fields such as biology, zoology, animal husbandry, or pre-veterinary studies typically earn the most money. A few schools across the United States, most of which are located in areas with internationally renowned zoos, offer a two-year associate degree or certificate in zoo keeping, which teaches students the fundamentals of the profession.
The amount of experience a zookeeper has in zoo keeping or related animal-care fields, such as kennel work or veterinary assisting, has an impact on his salary. The starting salary offered is largely determined previous animal-related employment experience, rather than subsequent salary increases. Experience also aids in answering the question of whether an applicant’s expectations for the position applied for are realistic when asked an interviewing curator.
Finally, the salary of a zookeeper is determined the animal or animals he is responsible for and the level of care required. On a daily basis, most zookeepers are in charge of evaluating, feeding, exercising, and cleaning the animals’ enclosures. They may also be in charge of food preparation in addition to feeding. Cleaning duties may be delegated to an assistant in some zoos, allowing the zookeeper to focus on documenting the details of an animal’s condition.