Did You Know?
Experienced zookeepers can spot early signs of illness in an animal, like a slightly different walk or a change in how it interacts with the group, days before those changes would be obvious to anyone else, sometimes catching a health problem before any test would show it.
The Numbers Behind the Career
There were about 413,000 animal care and service worker jobs in the U.S. in 2025, a broad category that includes zookeepers.
About 69,400 openings are projected each year across this category over the next 10 years.
The median annual salary for animal care and service workers was $35,530 in 2025.
Where This Career Is Headed
Over the next decade, wearable and implantable health-tracking technology will likely evolve to predict illness before any symptom appears, flagging subtle changes in an animal's data days or weeks ahead of what a keeper could notice by observation alone. AI-powered camera systems will likely begin monitoring animal behavior around the clock, automatically flagging unusual activity patterns so keepers can investigate a possible problem faster than constant in-person observation would allow. As climate change makes parts of the world less livable for certain species, zoos may take on a growing role housing animals whose wild habitat has become too hot, dry, or unstable to sustain them, turning some zoos into a kind of climate refuge rather than just a place people visit. Genetic coordination will likely also expand, with real-time shared databases letting zoos match potential breeding pairs across international networks instantly rather than through today's slower, species-by-species process.
Predictive health-tracking technology could flag illness in an animal days or weeks before any visible symptom appears, giving keepers and veterinarians a head start that current observation alone cannot provide.
AI-powered behavior monitoring could give keepers continuous data on dozens of animals at once, catching subtle changes faster than a keeper could by checking in on each animal individually throughout the day.
As climate change threatens species' wild habitats, zoos with the right expertise could play a larger role as safe harbors for animals whose native environments no longer reliably support them.
Education & Certification
Most zoos require zookeepers to hold a bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, animal science, or a related field, and coursework in animal behavior, ecology, and nutrition provides a strong foundation for the work. Many aspiring zookeepers gain hands-on experience through internships or volunteer positions at zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, or veterinary clinics before applying for a paid position, since direct animal-handling experience is often what separates candidates in a competitive field. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) offers week-long professional development courses on topics like animal training and enrichment, and the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) supports keeper education throughout their careers, though these are supplemental, not required.
Some zookeepers who specialize in a particular type of animal, like primates or birds, pursue additional species-specific training or certifications offered through professional organizations once they are already working in the field. The degree alone typically takes four years, with additional time spent gaining the animal-handling experience most zoos expect before hiring.
To Prepare:
Take biology, environmental science, or zoology courses if your school offers them, since this coursework builds the foundation for a bachelor's degree.
Join a school science club, environmental team, or 4-H animal program, since hands-on experience with animals of any kind is exactly what zoos look for later.
Research colleges with a strong zoology, animal science, or wildlife biology program, since choosing the right undergraduate path early makes internships and entry-level zoo positions more accessible after graduation.
