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

Amber Dunaway

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$59,888

Sub-department: Northern Trail
Base pay: $59,141
Overtime: $642
Other pay: $106
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,888
Hire date: 2003-05-03
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, Amber Dunaway serves as a Zoo Keeper within Northern Trail. They have served since 2003 (about 22 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $59,888. Union affiliation: Technical.

Brianna Thorson

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$59,638

Sub-department: Aquatics
Base pay: $57,336
Overtime: $2,088
Other pay: $214
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,638
Hire date: 2024-06-05
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, Brianna Thorson serves as a Zoo Keeper within Aquatics. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $59,638. They are represented by Technical.

Kelly Sandhofer

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$59,605

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $56,956
Overtime: $2,575
Other pay: $74
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,605
Hire date: 2021-12-08
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

Kelly Sandhofer holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Tropics & MN Trail. Their tenure dates to 2021, about 4 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $59,605. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Christian Dietert

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$59,596

Sub-department: Ambassador Animals
Base pay: $57,338
Overtime: $2,052
Other pay: $205
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,596
Hire date: 2018-05-10
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

Christian Dietert is a Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Ambassador Animals. Their tenure dates to 2018, about 7 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $59,596. They are represented by Technical.

Gabriele Koniszczuk

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$59,285

Sub-department: Farm
Base pay: $54,434
Overtime: $4,469
Other pay: $382
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,285
Hire date: 2022-05-25
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

Gabriele Koniszczuk is a Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Farm. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $59,285. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Taylor Blake

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$58,529

Sub-department: Ambassador Animals
Base pay: $56,307
Overtime: $2,015
Other pay: $207
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,529
Hire date: 2023-01-04
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, Taylor Blake serves as a Zoo Keeper within Ambassador Animals. Hired in 2023, they have about 2 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $58,529. They are represented by Technical.