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

Katherine Heffernan

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$63,365

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $59,634
Overtime: $3,707
Other pay: $24
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $63,365
Hire date: 2024-07-31
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

Katherine Heffernan holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Tropics & MN Trail. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $63,365. They are represented by Technical.

Bethany Jeffrey

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$62,854

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $61,504
Overtime: $1,350
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $62,854
Hire date: 2023-11-08
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

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Bethany Jeffrey serves as a Zoo Keeper within Tropics & MN Trail. They have served since 2023 (about 2 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $62,854. They are represented by Technical.

Maggie Estby

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$62,121

Sub-department: Northern Trail
Base pay: $60,838
Overtime: $1,270
Other pay: $12
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $62,121
Hire date: 2016-03-31
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

Maggie Estby works as a Zoo Keeper for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Northern Trail. Hired in 2016, they have about 9 years of service as a full-time employee. Maggie earned $62,121 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Alexander Peters

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$61,744

Sub-department: Birds
Base pay: $57,183
Overtime: $4,545
Other pay: $15
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,744
Hire date: 2019-12-11
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

Alexander Peters works as a Zoo Keeper for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Birds. Their tenure dates to 2019, about 6 years as a full-time employee. Alexander earned $61,744 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Christine Burns

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$61,463

Sub-department: Birds
Base pay: $58,415
Overtime: $3,032
Other pay: $16
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,463
Hire date: 2022-03-30
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

Christine Burns is a Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Birds. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $61,463. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Brandon Carmichael

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$61,055

Sub-department: Birds
Base pay: $59,243
Overtime: $1,812
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,055
Hire date: 2023-03-01
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

Brandon Carmichael holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Birds. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $61,055. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Corey Petersen

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$60,171

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $57,096
Overtime: $3,024
Other pay: $51
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,171
Hire date: 2023-03-01
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, Corey Petersen serves as a Zoo Keeper within Tropics & MN Trail. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $60,171. Their bargaining unit is Technical.