Zookeeper
Zookeepers look after animals in zoos, safari parks and aquariums.
Also known as: Keeper, animal keeper
- Starter salary£21,000 a year
- Experienced£28,000 a year
- Typical hours30 to 37 a week
What you'll do
As a zookeeper, you could:
- prepare food and feed animals
- clean out enclosures and change bedding
- check for signs of injury, distress or disease
- work with veterinary staff to care for sick animals
- monitor conditions like temperature and humidity
- help to maintain and develop habitats
- assist with data collection for conservation research
- run education workshops and give talks to the public
- supervise trainee keepers, animal care workers and volunteers
Working environment
You could work at a zoo, at a wildlife park or in an aquarium.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- the ability to work well with others
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- customer service skills
- knowledge of biology
- to be flexible and open to change
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a zookeeper
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
- animal or zoo management
- animal behaviour and welfare
- zoology or marine zoology
- animal conservation and biodiversity
- veterinary science
- animal biology
It may help later when looking for work, if you do a course that includes work placements or an internship. You can search for courses through the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
College
You could do a course before applying to a zoo for a trainee assistant zookeeper's job. Courses include:
- animal care
- biology
- animal care and welfare management
- T Level in Animal Care and Management
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an apprenticeship with an animal welfare centre, wildlife park or zoo. Options include:
- Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Animal Care and Welfare Manager Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Keeper and Aquarist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
You may be able to specialise in training zoo animals by completing an Animal Training Instructor Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You could start work as a keeper's assistant in a zoo or aquarium.
Once working, and with the backing of your employer, you could enrol on the 2-year Diploma in Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals (DMZAA) .
The Diploma may lead onto higher education training or opportunities to apply for more senior roles at your place of work.
Volunteering
There's a lot of competition for courses and trainee jobs, so getting work experience and volunteering at a zoo or aquarium is an excellent way to improve your career prospects.
If you're volunteering for at least 1 day a week, you may be able to do a Certificate in Management of Zoos and Aquarium Animals for Volunteers (CMZAAV). This is offered by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and gives you a foundation to build on for a career in zookeeping.
You can also get experience by volunteering at:
- kennels, farms or riding stables
- animal welfare sanctuaries or rescue centres
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
Career path and progression
In larger zoos, wildlife parks or aquariums, you could progress from keeper to team leader or head keeper.
You might need to relocate to another part of the country to advance to senior positions, as competition for jobs can be strong.
With experience and a degree, you could become a collections curator. You could also move into conservation education, breeding programmes or research.
Career tips
Any experience of working with the public will be good preparation for educating zoo and wildlife centre visitors.
Many animal charities offer opportunities to promote animal welfare directly to the public, or online, through social media campaigns.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
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