Zookeeper

A zookeeper manages the daily care, welfare, and behaviour of animals in zoo, wildlife park, or sanctuary settings in Australia. They maintain animal enclosures, prepare species-appropriate diets, monitor animal health, and implement enrichment programmes to support physical and psychological wellbeing. Zookeepers work under the direction of senior keepers and veterinary staff to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards and zoo operational procedures.

Clean and maintain animal enclosures, water systems, and feeding areas according to species-specific hygiene protocols. Prepare and distribute feed rations for designated animal species, following nutritional guidelines and dietary schedules. Observe and record animal behaviour, appetite, faeces consistency, and physical condition for health monitoring. Identify signs of illness, injury, or distress in animals and report findings to senior keepers or veterinarians. Implement enrichment activities such as puzzle feeders, environmental modifications, and social interactions to promote natural behaviours. Assist veterinarians during health checks, vaccinations, and medical treatments by restraining animals and collecting samples. Conduct daily safety inspections of enclosure structures, fencing, gates, and locks to prevent escapes and injuries. Respond to emergency situations including animal escapes, injuries, or health crises following zoo emergency protocols.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

Pay is modest and capped. Most positions are entry-level with limited advancement without moving into management or veterinary roles. The work is physical, repetitive, and happens in all weather. You'll handle animal waste, risk bites and scratches, and work weekends and public holidays. Emotional strain comes from seeing animals suffer or die.

Wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres also exist in regional areas near natural habitats. These roles are employer-specific and not widely distributed. Remote work doesn't exist in this field.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3611, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Advise on animal purchase
• Calculate rates per hours
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• Process Improvement Identification
• Report Writing
• Research and Analysis
• Stakeholder Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026