Is it hard being a zookeeper?

One reason is that many zoo keepers are new to the workforce and may not have the skills or experience to weather the challenges of the job. Zookeeping can be physically and emotionally demanding, and it is important to have strong coping mechanisms in place to handle the stresses of the job.



People Also Ask

The personal and professional satisfaction that zoo keepers find in their jobs varies from person to person. Most zoo keepers have a deep and lifelong love for animals and really enjoy providing for their day-to-day care.

MORE DETAILS

A Zookeeper in your area makes on average $19 per hour, or $0.71 (39.179%) more than the national average hourly salary of $18.01. California ranks number 19 out of 50 states nationwide for Zookeeper salaries.

MORE DETAILS

Cleaning and maintaining animal habitats. Preparing food and feeding animals. Training animals so there can be safe exams and interactions. Observing animals' behavior throughout the day.

MORE DETAILS

Health and Safety Risks Even an otherwise docile animal may lash out viciously if ill or injured. Serious injuries at petting zoos are less common, but zookeeper and visitors may come down with a serious, life-threatening illness from handling animals or touching fences and railings.

MORE DETAILS

What Are Some Pros and Cons of Zoos?
  • Animals Often Only Have Quite Limited Space. ...
  • Zoos Are Crowded. ...
  • Animals Are Trapped in Unnatural Environments. ...
  • Confinement May Alter the Behavior of Animals. ...
  • 'Surplus' Animals Can Be Killed. ...
  • Animals Are Often Mistreated. ...
  • Animals Don't Like Being Visited. ...
  • Animals Struggle to Form Connections.


MORE DETAILS

Most zookeeping positions do not follow a regular Monday through Friday workweek – working days usually include weekends. At Woodland Park Zoo, zookeeping positions offer competitive benefits such as sick leave, holidays, vacation time, pension plans and medical, dental and optical plans.

MORE DETAILS

Zookeepers have to use math all the time! They have to weigh the animals, see how long they are, measure out the food they eat and much more.

MORE DETAILS

“Elephants are known to cause more injuries and deaths to keepers than any other animal, by far.”

MORE DETAILS

Highest paying cities for Zookeepers near United States
  • Albuquerque, NM. $19.74 per hour. 11 salaries reported.
  • Houston, TX. $16.15 per hour. 5 salaries reported.
  • Santa Rosa, CA. $15.82 per hour. 7 salaries reported.
  • Dallas, TX. $15.64 per hour. 6 salaries reported.
  • Austin, TX. $15.00 per hour. ...
  • Show more nearby cities.


MORE DETAILS

Competition for jobs at zoos is intense despite the low pay and challenging working conditions. There are many more candidates than available positions. Most zookeepers enjoy their work, and turnover is low. The majority of new jobs result from the need to replace workers who leave the field.

MORE DETAILS