March 05, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)
Wild jobs: working in zoos and aquariums
Taking care of the animals at the zoo involves
more than most visitors imagine. In addition to animal caretakers, workers
at zoos and aquariums include animal curators, veterinarians, veterinary
technicians, and research scientists.
[Chart data—TXT]
Median annual earnings among the different occupations at zoos and
aquariums ranged in 1998 from a low of $17,120 for animal caretakers, who
feed, monitor, and sometimes train animals, to a high of $60,940 for
engineering, mathematical, and science managers. Animal curators, the
professional workers who design care guidelines, make breeding decisions,
and supervise keepers, had median earnings of $28,080 per year.
Earnings data are not available specifically for veterinarians and
veterinary technicians employed by zoos and aquariums. However, in 1998,
the median annual earnings of veterinary technicians in all settings were
$19,870 and those for veterinarians were $50,950.
These data are a product of the Occupational
Employment Statistics program. For
additional information, see "Wild jobs with wildlife: Jobs in zoos
and aquariums," by Olivia Crosby in the Occupational Outlook
Quarterly, Spring 2001 edition.
Of interest
Spotlight on Statistics: National Hispanic Heritage Month
In this Spotlight, we take a look at the Hispanic labor force—including labor force participation, employment and unemployment, educational attainment, geographic location, country of birth, earnings, consumer expenditures, time use, workplace injuries, and employment projections.
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Read more »