Minnesota / Minnesota Zoological Garden / Zoo Keeper

Job-title file

Zoo Keeper

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

73 employees hold this title in Minnesota Zoological Garden. Median total compensation for the role is $59,285, above the department median of $46,651.

Employees: 73
Total payroll: $3.6M
Role median: $59,285
Agency median: $46,651
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$4,091$73,952+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 73 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Matthew Detjen

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$56,417

Sub-department: Ambassador Animals
Base pay: $54,649
Overtime: $1,734
Other pay: $34
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $56,417
Hire date: 2017-05-15
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 69
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Matthew Detjen holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Ambassador Animals. Their tenure dates to 2017, about 8 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $56,417. They are represented by Technical.

Jayme Pugh

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$56,309

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $54,351
Overtime: $1,943
Other pay: $15
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $56,309
Hire date: 2012-05-17
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 69
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jayme Pugh holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Tropics & MN Trail. Their tenure dates to 2012, about 13 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $56,309. They are represented by Technical.

Sarah Mariette

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$55,838

Sub-department: Ambassador Animals
Base pay: $53,243
Overtime: $2,361
Other pay: $235
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,838
Hire date: 2016-03-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 69
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Sarah Mariette serves as a Zoo Keeper within Ambassador Animals. They have served since 2016 (about 9 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $55,838. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Leah Ngo

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$54,756

Sub-department: Aquatics
Base pay: $52,506
Overtime: $2,237
Other pay: $12
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $54,756
Hire date: 2022-07-20
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 69
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Leah Ngo holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Aquatics. They have served since 2022 (about 3 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $54,756. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Karla Anderson

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$53,738

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $31,736
Overtime: $642
Other pay: $21,361
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,738
Hire date: 1990-03-26
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Karla Anderson works as a Zoo Keeper for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Tropics & MN Trail. Their tenure dates to 1990, about 35 years as a full-time employee. Karla earned $53,738 in 2025. They are represented by Technical.

Maria Reedstrom

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$53,200

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $52,272
Overtime: $918
Other pay: $10
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,200
Hire date: 1998-04-15
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 69
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.75
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Maria Reedstrom holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Tropics & MN Trail. They have served since 1998 (about 27 years) as a part-time, 0.75 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $53,200. They are represented by Technical.