How to become a zookeeper in Australia
Zookeepers feed, provide water for and monitor the health of animals in zoos, aquaria and wildlife parks, clean, fix and maintain animal cages, and inform visitors about animals.
Pay and growth are for the wider animal attendants and trainers group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the animal attendants and trainers group are projected to grow 11.0% between May 2025 and May 2035, slower than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Prepares, cleans, disinfects and maintains comfortable cages and enclosures.
- Transports food, fills water troughs and feeds animals according to their individual needs.
- Maintains animal health records, treats minor injuries and reports serious conditions to veterinarians.
- Exercises and plays with animals, answers visitor questions and transfers animals between enclosures by leading or carrying them.
- Dusts and sprays insecticides on animals and immerses them in insecticide baths to control insect pests.
How to get there
What it usually takes. A Certificate II, III or IV. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the animal attendants and trainers group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 41% a degree or higher, 7% a diploma, 27% a Certificate III or IV.
Apprenticeship or traineeship. This job isn't on the current Priority List we checked, which only covers occupations in demand, so that doesn't rule one out. Ask a TAFE or an Apprentice Connect provider.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria6 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Wildlife and Conservation Biology · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood76.20 Wildlife and Conservation Biology · La Trobe, Melbourne71.35 Zoology and Animal Science · Deakin, Geelong Waurn Ponds64.30 Agriculture (Animal Science major) · La Trobe, Melbourne63.30Diplomas and other ways in
NSW and ACT6 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga) · Sydney80.30 Bachelor of Animal Science · UNE74.45 Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) (Zoology) · Western Sydney70.05 Bachelor of Animal Science · Charles Sturt65.45Showing 5 of 6 matches. Search every course.
Queensland2 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Wildlife Science · UQ, Gatton72.60 Bachelor of Animal Science · UNE, Armidale70.60Western Australia2 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Agricultural Science in Animal Science · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Science in Conservation and Wildlife Biology · Murdoch, Perth60.05Matched on course names, 16 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Realistic, Social, Conventional.
From O*NET ratings for "Animal Caretakers", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a acceptable match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
Arborist Firefighter$2,473 Dental technician$2,210 Diesel mechanic$1,622 Plumber$1,990Done this job, or studied for it?
Tell Year 12s the one thing you wish you'd known. First name only, and we read every story before it goes up.
Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.