Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors

Salaries of zoo and aquarium curators and directors vary widely depending on the size and location of the institution, whether it is privately or publicly owned, the size of its endowments and budget, and job responsibilities, educational background, and experience. Generally, zoos and aquariums in metropolitan areas pay higher salaries.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual earnings for all curators were $54,570 in May 2019, with salaries ranging from less than $28,330 to more than $87,760. Directors tend to be the highest paid employees at zoos and aquariums; the range of their salary is from approximately $110,000 to more than $150,000 per year, with some directors at major institutions earning considerably more than that. SalaryExpert.com reported $145,281 as the average salary for zoo directors in November 2020.

Most zoos and aquariums provide benefits packages including medical insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and generous retirement benefits. As salaried employees, directors and curators are not eligible for overtime pay, but they may get compensatory time for extra hours worked. Larger institutions may also offer coverage for prescription drugs, dental and vision insurance, mental health plans, and retirement savings plans. Private corporate zoos may offer better benefits, including profit sharing.