Is It Hard to Get a Job at the Zoo?

Getting work at the zoo is difficult as there are often many applicants. You need prior experience with animals. Most facilities require a degree. Zoo work involves caring for animals daily, which can be demanding. Interacting with animals and educating the public on conservation are rewarding parts of the job. Demand for zookeepers will increase greatly through 2022. Zoologists study animals’ habitats while zookeepers care for them.

Zoo vet techs earn approximately $40,000 yearly dependent on location and experience. The veterinarian salary at zoos varies by place, experience, and employer. Most zoo veterinarians make $90,000 – $159,000 annually and require a 4-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

Volunteer apprenticeships allow working with animals and staff. You can help with animal feeding, treatment, observing keepers, and maintaining enclosures. Experience builds your resume. Tell friends working at the zoo to recommend you for openings since facilities don’t always publicly advertise them.
Checking online job boards, the zoo entrance bulletin, the zoo’s Facebook page, and setting a Google Alert for openings helps you find available jobs. Building an online profile shows your work and helps you connect with potential employers. Eliminating errors in your profile makes you appear more professional. Personalized connection requests improve your chances of getting noticed.

Government and nonprofit funding impacts job availability for zoologists. When budgets face cuts, openings decrease. Most zoologists work for such organizations, limiting positions. At zoos work continues year-round caring for animals daily.

Getting experience working with animals through counselor roles at zoos while volunteering there can be beneficial. Paid animal care jobs at veterinarians or farms also provide useful experience. If you can’t get an animal job, try working at the zoo while volunteering.

Rescuing animals can be paid work at shelters. Observe current paid versus volunteer positions when visiting. There are opportunities to help animals while getting paid. Animal rescuers aid in rehabilitation, care, and finding homes for animals in need.