Zoo Curator
Role lens
Zoo curators are usually the position of middle-management within an institution. Much of their work involves oversight, management and development of the animal collection. Often this is related to animal husbandry and welfare policy, the acquisition and disposition of zoo animals, and development of new exhibits. Zoos normally acquire animals through captive breeding programs. The zoo collection, trade, and transport of the animals is regulated by government agencies as well as guided by zoo membership organisations. Consequently, zoo curators act as a liaison between these agencies and the zoo itself. Additionally, they play an active role in the administration of zoo functions and all kinds of captive breeding programs.
Zoo curators typically hold a middle-management position within a zoological institution. Their role is multifaceted, encompassing the oversight and development of the animal collection, animal husbandry, and welfare policies. They are crucial in managing the acquisition and disposition of animals, planning new exhibit designs, and ensuring compliance with regulations from government agencies and zoo membership organizations. This role requires a blend of scientific knowledge, leadership skills, and a commitment to animal welfare.
- • Oversee animal care and welfare, ensuring adherence to best practices and relevant regulations.
- • Manage the acquisition, breeding, and transfer of animals within and between zoos, often participating in captive breeding programs.
- • Develop and implement exhibit designs that prioritize animal well-being and provide engaging educational experiences for visitors.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Hospitality, retail and other services managers — 72 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Italy.
Longest-running shortage: Italy, 2 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $63,420 2025-05 | +7% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +27.3% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £33,342 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
Do you guide students, clients or employees? Use this occupation data in your organisation.
Future Outlook for zoo curator
The outlook for zoo curator reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could zoo curator change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- ensure health and safety of staff
- ensure health and safety of visitors
- follow company standards
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- administer treatment to animals
- speak different languages
- chair a meeting
Tasks most exposed to automation
- read zoo reports
- maintain catalogue collection
- maintain professional records
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Agriculture
A typical day as a zoo curator
09 09:00 · Morning assess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work together
10 10:30 · Mid-morning administer treatment to animals
12 12:00 · Midday advise on animal purchase
14 14:00 · Afternoon develop recreation programmes
15 15:30 · Late afternoon ensure health and safety of staff
17 17:00 · Wrap-up maintain catalogue collection
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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organise zoological exhibitions
Organise zoological exhibitions and the display of live animals and zoological collections.
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coordinate events
Lead events by managing budget, logistics, event support, security, emergency plans and follow up.
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schedule recreation facilities
Schedule the use of recreational facilities.
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establish daily priorities
Establish daily priorities for staff personnel; effectively deal with multi-task workload.
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fix meetings
Fix and schedule professional appointments or meetings for clients or superiors.
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manage staff
Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
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manage teamwork
Plan the working schedule of a group of people in order to meet all time and quality requirements. Supervise, support and instruct members of a team. Provide feedback to teams and individuals on work carried out.
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manage zoo staff
Manage zoo staff, including zoo keeping staff at all levels and/or veterinarians and/or educators and/or horticulturalists.
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maintain catalogue collection
Describe, inventorise and catalogue items in a collection.
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maintain professional records
Produce and maintain records of work performed.
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ensure health and safety of staff
Promote and maintain a culture of health, safety and security among the staff by maintaining policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable participants and when necessary, dealing with suspicions of possible abuse.
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ensure health and safety of visitors
Take the necessary precautions to ensure the physical safety of an audience or people visiting an activity. Prepare actions in case of emergency. Administer first aid and direct emergency evacuations.
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set organisational policies
Participate in setting organisational policies that cover issues such as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits for the service users.
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develop recreation programmes
Develop plans and policies which aim to provide the desired recreation activities to a target group or in a community.
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supervise daily information operations
Direct daily operations of different units. Coordinate program/project activities to assure the respect of costs and time.
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manage recreational facility
Manage the daily operations of a cultural facility. Organise all activities and coordinate the different departments functioning within a cultural facility. Develop a plan of action and arrange the necessary funds.
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work effectively with animal-related organisations
Develop and sustain relationships with other organisations such as charities, government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and representative bodies, in relation to furthering animal health and welfare. Communicate veterinary principles and operate within multidisciplinary teams comprised of persons with varying degrees of scientific and administrative knowledge.
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promote recreation activities
Promote the implementation of recreation programs in a community, as well as recreation services provided by an organisation or institution.
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manage supplies
Monitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities and synchronise supply with demand of production and customer.
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represent the organisation
Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.
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manage budgets
Plan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.
anatomy of animals
The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
animal evolution
The evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.
applied zoology
The science of applying animal anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behaviour in a particular practical context.
budgetary principles
Principles of estimating and planning of forecasts for business activity, compile regular budget and reports.
corporate social responsibility
The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.
physiology of animals
The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
- animal welfare legislation
- environmental legislation
- recreation activities
- zoo regulations
Path to become a zoo curator
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Master's or equivalent level
250 programmes in 26 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 67 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
These are 6 of 317.
Sources
- 1. Source: Study with New Zealand (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz), Education New Zealand. Copyright in the material is owned by Education New Zealand (All content (c) Education New Zealand). Listings are provided by the education providers, are for information and promotional purposes only, and are not endorsed by Education New Zealand; each provider is responsible for its own content.
- 2. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 3. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
- 4. Source: Study in Korea, National Institute for International Education (NIIED) (studyinkorea.go.kr).
- 5. Source: YÖK Atlas, Council of Higher Education (yokatlas.yok.gov.tr).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does zoo curator fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of education or experience is typically required to become a zoo curator?
How do zoo curators contribute to conservation efforts?
What are some of the challenges faced by zoo curators?
Is there a shortage of Zoo Curator in Europe?
How much does Zoo Curator pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data