What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Animal Caretakers in the U.S. earn more than $35,360 a year — the middle 80% land between $27,250 and $50,060. About 266,910 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Animal Caretakers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$35,360typical pay / year
266,910people in this work
$50,060+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Care4
Feed and water animals
+Feed and freshen water for the meerkats, capuchins, and pelicans on the morning rota, following the diet…
Feed and water animals
+Feed and freshen water for the meerkats, capuchins, and pelicans on the morning rota, following the diet charts and safety lockout for the raptor yard, note any refusals or abnormalities in the log and alert the senior keeper by 10:30.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Clean animal areas and enclosures
+Deep-clean the otter pool, scrub and replace bedding in the nocturnal house, hose down the giraffe yard after…
Clean animal areas and enclosures
+Deep-clean the otter pool, scrub and replace bedding in the nocturnal house, hose down the giraffe yard after removing droppings, complete the enclosure checklist, and report any structural concerns to grounds by end of shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Socialize and groom animals
+Spend the afternoon socialising the rescued foxes with supervised enrichment toys and gentle handling, brush…
Socialize and groom animals
+Spend the afternoon socialising the rescued foxes with supervised enrichment toys and gentle handling, brush the long-haired macaw, record behaviour and coat condition in the welfare notes, and flag any stress signs to the vet tech before leaving.
The tools that do the workGroomsoftjob descriptionsO*NET
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Perform animal husbandry duties (feeding, watering, medicating, vaccinating)
+Carry out the daily husbandry rounds: feed herbivores, top up waterers, administer scheduled oral meds to the…
Perform animal husbandry duties (feeding, watering, medicating, vaccinating)
+Carry out the daily husbandry rounds: feed herbivores, top up waterers, administer scheduled oral meds to the red pandas and vaccinate the two lemurs per the clinic sheet, then sign the medication log and notify the vet of any adverse reactions.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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Move1
Assist with animal transportation
+Assist in loading the female tapir and two peccaries into the transport crate for the 14:00 transfer to the…
Assist with animal transportation
+Assist in loading the female tapir and two peccaries into the transport crate for the 14:00 transfer to the wildlife hospital, secure restraint sling and paperwork, follow the transport safety checklist, and text the transport lead on arrival at 14:45.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Convincing1
Educate visitors about animals
+Run the 11:30 talk at the primate viewing platform about rescue histories and diet, use the keeper notes for…
Educate visitors about animals
+Run the 11:30 talk at the primate viewing platform about rescue histories and diet, use the keeper notes for facts, hand out the printed welfare leaflets, answer visitor questions about enrichment, and log visitor counts and feedback afterward.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptions
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The daily work16
Answer questions
+Answer the visitor questions on this afternoon shift: where the red pandas are, why the meerkats are behind…
Answer questions
+Answer the visitor questions on this afternoon shift: where the red pandas are, why the meerkats are behind glass, feeding times for otters, any baby animals on exhibit, and the accessibility options — use the keeper phone log to record each question and your answer before you leave at 4:30 PM.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
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Monitor animal health and behavior
+Walk the primate and ungulate yards at 0800, record each animal’s temperature, appetite, stool, and unusual…
Monitor animal health and behavior
+Walk the primate and ungulate yards at 0800, record each animal’s temperature, appetite, stool, and unusual behaviors in the daily health log, flag any worrying changes for the head keeper before noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Handle animals with care and safety protocols
+Move the young macaws from the nursery to the handling crate using the two-person transfer, follow the…
Handle animals with care and safety protocols
+Move the young macaws from the nursery to the handling crate using the two-person transfer, follow the restraint and PPE checklist, log the transfer and any stress signs in the handling record, and notify the vet if a bite or escape risk occurs.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Medicate animals as directed
+Prepare the medicating station at 0900, draw up doses from the labeled drug box exactly as prescribed,…
Medicate animals as directed
+Prepare the medicating station at 0900, draw up doses from the labeled drug box exactly as prescribed, administer orally or by injection as directed, document dose, route and reaction in the medication sheet, and call the vet if adverse signs appear.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Clean the exhibits
+Start exhibit cleaning at 0700 using the enclosure-specific protocols, remove feces and soiled bedding,…
Clean the exhibits
+Start exhibit cleaning at 0700 using the enclosure-specific protocols, remove feces and soiled bedding, disinfect hard surfaces with the approved solution, restock enrichment items, and note anything abnormal in the maintenance log for the curator to review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptions
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Report possible health problems
+When you suspect illness, photograph the animal, note appetite, mobility, discharge and behavior, fill in the…
Report possible health problems
+When you suspect illness, photograph the animal, note appetite, mobility, discharge and behavior, fill in the incident report and email it to Dr. Patel and head keeper by 1100 with the enclosure number and recent feed records attached.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCOjob descriptions
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Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
+Stand at the education window from 1100–1300, answer visitor questions about the snow leopard’s diet,…
Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
+Stand at the education window from 1100–1300, answer visitor questions about the snow leopard’s diet, breeding season, and enclosure changes truthfully, hand out the printed fact sheet, and log any repeat concerns or complaints in the visitor feedback book.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Clean and disinfect surgical equipment.
+Collect used surgical instruments, wear double gloves and eye protection, run the enzymatic soak, scrub each…
Clean and disinfect surgical equipment.
+Collect used surgical instruments, wear double gloves and eye protection, run the enzymatic soak, scrub each item to remove debris, autoclave on the approved cycle, log serials and disposal times in the instrument register.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
+Identify stray or unwanted animals in holding, photograph and list age, sex, health notes, post…
Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
+Identify stray or unwanted animals in holding, photograph and list age, sex, health notes, post adoption-ready profiles to the zoo rehoming page, screen applicants, and arrange transport to approved homes with signed transfer forms.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.
+Check the exhibit thermostat and humidity readouts, adjust the controls to 26°C and 60% for the nursery, log…
Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.
+Check the exhibit thermostat and humidity readouts, adjust the controls to 26°C and 60% for the nursery, log the change and reason, and notify head keeper Sam if the system fails to hold within two hours.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Assess animal temperament
+Assess temperaments for the five young primates in troop A by observing each during morning feeding, log…
Assess animal temperament
+Assess temperaments for the five young primates in troop A by observing each during morning feeding, log signs of stress or aggression, rate handlers’ fit for pairings, and flag any animals needing behaviour modification plans by close of shift today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Administer medications and treatments
+Administer scheduled medications to the elephant calf, camel and two otters this afternoon, confirm doses…
Administer medications and treatments
+Administer scheduled medications to the elephant calf, camel and two otters this afternoon, confirm doses against each medical chart, record time, route and staff witness, and note any adverse reactions for the veterinarian review before end of day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Maintain farm records and documentation
+Update the farm stock ledger with births, deaths, feed usage and veterinary visits for the month, reconcile…
Maintain farm records and documentation
+Update the farm stock ledger with births, deaths, feed usage and veterinary visits for the month, reconcile feed invoices against usage, and produce a one-page summary of changes for the manager meeting Wednesday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Coordinate with personnel and regulatory agencies
+Prepare and send the incident report and enclosure inspection notes to the state wildlife officer and to our…
Coordinate with personnel and regulatory agencies
+Prepare and send the incident report and enclosure inspection notes to the state wildlife officer and to our head keeper, include photos and the quarantine plan, request confirmation of receipt and any regulatory follow-up by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Develop and adhere to operational budgets
+Build the quarter’s operational budget for the mammal section showing staff, feed, transport and medical…
Develop and adhere to operational budgets
+Build the quarter’s operational budget for the mammal section showing staff, feed, transport and medical lines, highlight where projected feed costs exceed allowance, and submit to finance and the director for approval next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Conduct guided tours
+Run the 11am family tour at the African savannah exhibit, tailor remarks to include animal diets and calf…
Conduct guided tours
+Run the 11am family tour at the African savannah exhibit, tailor remarks to include animal diets and calf care, enforce safety boundaries, collect attendee feedback cards and email a short summary to education and guest services by end of day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses