{"id":31056,"date":"2026-11-05T09:55:54","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T09:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stonebridge.uk.com\/blog\/?p=31056"},"modified":"2026-11-05T09:55:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T09:55:54","slug":"working-in-a-zoo-or","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stonebridge.uk.com\/blog\/animal-care\/zookeeping-zoology\/working-in-a-zoo-or\/","title":{"rendered":"Working in a Zoo: Roles, Pay and How to Get In"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you picture working in a zoo as spending your days cuddling animals? Most zoo work looks very different. You're cleaning, checking, recording and talking to visitors, often in all weathers. That routine can still be satisfying, but you'll make a better choice if you're clear about the duties, pay and entry routes first.<\/p>\n

The main roles in a UK zoo<\/h2>\n

A UK zoo relies on a wider team than the keeper role. Each job supports animal welfare in a different way, from daily care to the records, habitats and visitor flow that keep the site safe.<\/p>\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Role<\/th>\nMain work<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Animal Keeper<\/td>\nHusbandry, feeding, enclosure cleaning, records and visitor talks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aquarist<\/td>\nWater quality, tanks and aquatic animal care<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Veterinary Professional<\/td>\nHealth checks, treatments and support for keepers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Educator<\/td>\nKeeper talks, workshops and school visits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conservation Staff<\/td>\nResearch and conservation projects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Horticulturalist<\/td>\nPlanting and maintaining animal habitats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Visitor and Operations Staff<\/td>\nCatering, retail, maintenance and administration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/figure>\n

Evidence presented to the UK Parliament in 2012<\/a> linked British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums members to approximately 11,000 permanent jobs<\/strong> and around \u00a3658 million<\/strong> of economic activity; one zoo cited had more than 310 permanent employees<\/strong>, rising to roughly 600<\/strong> in peak season.<\/p>\n

For a first route in, look past job titles and match the work to your evidence: comfort with routine, accuracy with records, and calm behaviour around animals and visitors. If keeper posts are full, compare related options in our guide to interesting roles working with animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What a zoo keeper does each day<\/h2>\n

Your first job is usually a round of checks before visitors arrive. A keeper's day is built around welfare and records, so the animals set the schedule.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/figure><\/p>\n

You check animals at regular intervals throughout the day. On each round you look at enclosure security, food and water, droppings, movement, breathing and social behaviour. Anything unusual goes to a Vet or Supervisor promptly, and you write down what you saw and when. Those notes matter because a small change in appetite or behaviour can be the first sign of illness.<\/p>\n

The routine below shows how those checks fit around practical work.<\/p>\n