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

Bridget Smith

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$75,629

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $70,815
Overtime: $4,777
Other pay: $37
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,629
Hire date: 2006-04-20
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

Bridget Smith works as a Zoo Keeper for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Tropics & MN Trail. Their tenure dates to 2006, about 19 years as a full-time employee. Bridget earned $75,629 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Kristi Molitor

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$74,391

Sub-department: Northern Trail
Base pay: $68,796
Overtime: $5,511
Other pay: $84
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,391
Hire date: 2004-04-23
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

Kristi Molitor works as a Zoo Keeper for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Northern Trail. Hired in 2004, they have about 21 years of service as a full-time employee. Kristi earned $74,391 in 2025. Union affiliation: Technical.

Eric Reece

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$73,393

Sub-department: Northern Trail
Base pay: $67,539
Overtime: $5,734
Other pay: $120
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,393
Hire date: 2011-04-26
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

Eric Reece holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Northern Trail. They have served since 2011 (about 14 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $73,393. Union affiliation: Technical.

Benjamin Sutton

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$73,217

Sub-department: Northern Trail
Base pay: $68,624
Overtime: $4,538
Other pay: $55
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,217
Hire date: 2004-07-01
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

Benjamin Sutton holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Northern Trail. Their tenure dates to 2004, about 21 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $73,217. Union affiliation: Technical.

Shannon Kour

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$72,716

Sub-department: Ambassador Animals
Base pay: $69,116
Overtime: $3,591
Other pay: $8
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,716
Hire date: 2006-07-03
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

Shannon Kour is a Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Ambassador Animals. Their tenure dates to 2006, about 19 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $72,716. They are represented by Technical.

Kelli Gabrielson

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$72,261

Sub-department: Tropics & MN Trail
Base pay: $70,843
Overtime: $1,411
Other pay: $8
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,261
Hire date: 2009-05-14
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

Kelli Gabrielson holds the role of Zoo Keeper at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Tropics & MN Trail. Their tenure dates to 2009, about 16 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $72,261. They are represented by Technical.

Jessica Grill

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$71,500

Sub-department: Northern Trail
Base pay: $66,903
Overtime: $4,490
Other pay: $107
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,500
Hire date: 2012-03-28
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

Jessica Grill works as a Zoo Keeper for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Northern Trail. Hired in 2012, they have about 13 years of service as a full-time employee. Jessica earned $71,500 in 2025. They are represented by Technical.

Samantha Emberton

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$71,387

Sub-department: Aquatics
Base pay: $67,119
Overtime: $4,237
Other pay: $31
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,387
Hire date: 2024-01-17
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

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Samantha Emberton serves as a Zoo Keeper within Aquatics. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $71,387. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Benjamin Minerich

Zoo Keeper/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$71,224

Sub-department: Conservation & Research
Base pay: $68,865
Overtime: $2,359
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,224
Hire date: 2013-02-04
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, Benjamin Minerich serves as a Zoo Keeper within Conservation & Research. They have served since 2013 (about 12 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $71,224. Their bargaining unit is Technical.