Manages a zoo or aquarium's animal collection, overseeing keepers, animal acquisitions, breeding programs and exhibit planning for a group of species or the whole institution. BLS does not publish separate figures for curators; it counts them within curator (SOC 25-4012), whose median pay is $63,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 25-4012
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Zoo Curator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $63,420a year, or $30.49/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $107K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,60014,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.2K
- Projected 203514.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.2K Projected 2035 14.9K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college3.4%
- Bachelor's6.1%
- Post-bacc certificate8.1%
- Master's44.1%
- Doctorate34.8%
- Post-doctoral training2.1%
Highest education held by curators Segment Value Some college 3.4% Bachelor's 6.1% Post-bacc certificate 8.1% Master's 44.1% Doctorate 34.8% Post-doctoral training 2.1%
Also advertised as: Animal Curator, Curator of Mammals, Curator of Birds, General Curator, Aquarium Curator.
Pay
How much do Curators make?
Every zoo curator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$63,420
Middle half earn $48,870 to $83,080
- 10th
- $40,470
- 25th
- $48,870
- 75th
- $83,080
- 90th
- $107,140
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,470 |
| 25th | $48,870 |
| Median | $63,420 |
| 75th | $83,080 |
| 90th | $107,140 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $63,420
- Median hourly wage
- $30.49/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $71,560
- People employed
- 12,150
Versus all US occupations
At $63,420, Curators earn 24% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,440 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 7% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $107,140 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,470, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 38% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $93,310, and still leads at $84,904 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Curators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $93,310 | $84,904 | 140 |
| 2New Hampshire | $82,490 | $79,192 | 60 |
| 3New York | $79,120 | $73,313 | 1,330 |
| 4California | $78,740 | $71,116 | 1,140 |
| 5Rhode Island | $77,930 | $76,193 | 70 |
| 6New Jersey | $77,800 | $71,504 | 120 |
| 7Massachusetts | $77,790 | $73,555 | 370 |
| 8Connecticut | $76,510 | $73,844 | 190 |
| 9South Dakota | $74,990 | $84,652 | 50 |
| 10Washington | $74,030 | $69,179 | 260 |
Job outlook
Is Zoo Curator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curators | +4.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Curators to change 4.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,600 openings are projected each year, 11.3% of the 14,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Zoo Curator
Most curators have a bachelor's degree in zoology, biology, animal science or a related field, and many hold a master's degree. The usual route is long experience in animal care: starting as a keeper or aquarist, then becoming a senior keeper and area supervisor before moving into a curator role.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) offers professional development courses in population management, animal welfare and leadership, and curators often serve as Species Survival Plan coordinators or studbook keepers. Knowledge of permits under the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act is part of the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as curators.
- Master's Degree44.1%
- Doctoral Degree34.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate8.1%
- Bachelor's Degree6.1%
- Some College Courses3.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 44.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 34.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 8.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 6.1% |
| Some College Courses | 3.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Zoo Curator do?
Zoo curators decide which animals a zoo keeps and how they are cared for. A curator of mammals, birds, reptiles or fishes supervises the keepers and managers in that department, sets husbandry standards, reviews daily animal records, and works with veterinarians on health and welfare decisions.
They plan animal moves between institutions, often as part of Species Survival Plans that manage breeding across accredited zoos to keep populations genetically healthy. Curators also secure permits for endangered species, help design new exhibits, manage budgets and staff, and represent the zoo in field conservation projects and professional committees. A general curator oversees all animal departments.
Day-to-day tasks
- Supervise keepers, aquarists and animal managers
- Set and review husbandry and welfare standards
- Plan animal acquisitions, transfers and breeding
- Coordinate with Species Survival Plans and studbook keepers
- Obtain permits for endangered and protected species
- Help plan and design new animal exhibits
- Manage department budgets and staffing
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Curators work at zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks, splitting time between offices and animal areas. The role involves meetings, planning and staff management, with time walking exhibits and holding areas. Schedules are mostly daytime, with on-call duty for animal emergencies and occasional travel for conferences and animal transfers.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Active Learning3.5
- Monitoring3.4
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Zoo Curator?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code EIS) built on O*NET's Curator profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Zoo Curator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.0
- Enterprising4.5
- Social4.1
- Investigative4.0
- Artistic3.0
- Realistic2.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Zoo Curator
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
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- Life, Physical, and Social Science
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Anthropology and Archeology Teacher, Postsecondary
$99,650median a year
Most earn $58K to $171K
+2.6%Doctorate
More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with curators highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Zoo Curator$63,420
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Zoo Curator | $63,420 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Zoo Curator appears on
Questions
Zoo Curator: frequently asked questions
How much do Curators make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for curators. It counts them within curator, whose median pay is $63,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $48,870 and $83,080, and the top 10% earn $107,140 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Zoo Curator?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Curators, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 44.1% hold master's degree.
Is Zoo Curator a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Zoo Curator do?
Zoo curators decide which animals a zoo keeps and how they are cared for. A typical task: supervise keepers, aquarists and animal managers. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Curators the most?
The highest state medians for Curators are District of Columbia ($93,310), New Hampshire ($82,490), New York ($79,120) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Zoo Curator?
O*NET scores Curators highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.