Data received June 2026

Full-time employees

472

Number of departments

90

Median pay

$60,533

Average pay

$71,861

St. Louis Zoo

Employees by pay range

Note: To learn how the Post-Dispatch calculates figures such as the number of full-time employees or median pay, as well as other important explanations and caveats, please see the About page.

Departments

Click on one of the headers below to sort a column. Data shown reflects actual gross pay for 2025, except where noted otherwise.

Department

FT employeesempl. Median pay Average pay Median experience Top earner
Security 21 $56,627 $56,334 5.0 $112,135
Bird House 19 $52,497 $52,227 11.0 $78,060
Animal Health 17 $61,312 $70,684 8.0 $137,659
FM - Housekeeping 17 $39,530 $44,532 6.0 $87,897
Carnivore 16 $51,726 $53,391 5.5 $80,863
Primate 16 $54,149 $54,545 11.0 $73,182
Development 14 $90,254 $102,418 5.0 $300,271
Finance 14 $85,490 $99,198 21.0 $321,614
River's Edge 13 $49,447 $51,972 7.0 $73,131
WCP - Animal Division 13 $54,774 $61,153 12.0 $154,158
Animal Admin 0200 11 $90,005 $101,003 17.0 $202,850
Antelope 11 $49,739 $52,012 9.0 $73,777
Creative Services 10 $63,786 $64,395 5.5 $135,659
FM - Carpentry 10 $68,207 $66,370 7.0 $82,096
Herpetarium 10 $49,444 $51,067 4.0 $67,666
Technology Services 10 $70,477 $79,607 12.5 $164,730
Education 8 $56,959 $60,361 10.5 $126,642
FM - HVAC 8 $62,729 $62,683 5.5 $109,006
FS - Admin 8 $67,860 $78,350 22.5 $126,620
Membership 8 $57,151 $64,666 11.5 $108,115
Animal Nutrition 7 $50,487 $62,861 8.0 $125,762
Distribution 7 $57,489 $63,836 13.0 $97,861
FM - Horticulture 1 7 $56,283 $58,147 4.0 $80,874
FS - Catering 7 $73,392 $73,451 7.0 $113,110
Human Resources 7 $90,836 $130,919 17.0 $311,863
ZFA Administration 7 $57,740 $61,942 5.0 $100,596
FM - Admin 6 $112,932 $110,382 11.5 $167,131
Invertebrates 6 $55,033 $58,711 10.5 $73,156
Life Support 6 $63,831 $66,446 14.0 $86,351
WCP - Security 6 $60,011 $60,056 7.5 $62,884
Architecture & Planning 5 $88,638 $113,821 13.0 $250,950
Destination Discovery 5 $48,120 $49,123 7.0 $67,972
FM - Grounds 5 $40,483 $47,663 11.0 $69,804
FM - Horticulture 2 5 $58,428 $62,621 5.0 $77,756
FM - Plumbing 5 $58,915 $61,773 3.0 $102,102
Public Relations 5 $80,725 $80,335 2.0 $157,718
Administration 4 $141,452 $171,249 28.0 $323,315
Attractions 4 $73,533 $70,737 7.5 $87,253
Event Sales 4 $71,741 $76,001 9.5 $104,403
FM - Electrical 4 $75,887 $81,038 14.5 $101,684
FM - Metal Works 4 $56,245 $57,367 4.0 $65,012
Research 4 $96,538 $104,147 13.0 $147,714
Tours 4 $58,482 $60,752 20.0 $71,962
WCP - FM Admin 4 $64,988 $62,754 10.5 $79,678
Animal Mgt Services 3 $66,062 $72,561 23.0 $107,076
Audio & Visual 3 $57,713 $65,427 8.0 $82,196
CARE 3 $79,325 $83,087 17.0 $109,636
Ed - Distance Learning 3 $57,362 $61,048 13.0 $76,787
Ed - Interpreters 3 $48,842 $54,052 16.0 $70,766
Marketing 3 $85,153 $105,171 5.0 $160,503
MPS 3 $76,799 $74,249 3.0 $97,941
Private Events 3 $54,863 $56,977 13.0 $65,434
RS - Administration 3 $77,073 $82,724 15.0 $108,913
Swing Keeper 3 $50,649 $48,510 8.0 $51,451
WCP - Arch & Construction 3 $45,596 $72,469 7.0 $143,369
BWBW Campaign 2 $102,528 $102,528 2.5 $108,583
Community, Culture & Belonging 2 $83,786 $83,786 2.0 $145,568
Docent Programs 2 $65,435 $65,435 16.5 $74,844
Ed - Camp Kangazoo 2 $63,845 $63,845 16.0 $69,084
Ed - Gallery 2 $67,165 $67,165 22.5 $77,347
Ed - Registrar 2 $60,918 $60,918 28.0 $65,548
Ed - School Programs 2 $53,795 $53,795 10.0 $55,069
Endocrinology 2 $80,533 $80,533 15.0 $114,596
Endowment 2 $121,188 $121,188 9.0 $140,297
FM - Fleet 2 $81,894 $81,894 12.0 $94,696
FM - Special Construction 2 $84,144 $84,144 20.0 $87,355
Guest Experience 2 $94,094 $94,094 18.0 $127,061
ICM 2 $106,139 $106,139 20.5 $151,181
Purchasing 2 $90,720 $90,720 10.5 $116,277
RMC 2 $81,868 $81,868 9.0 $82,165
Safety & Risk Management 2 $82,692 $82,692 8.0 $103,310
Sponsorship Marketing 2 $73,671 $73,671 4.0 $87,464
Volunteer Services 2 $77,305 $77,305 9.5 $89,539
WCI - Hellbender 2 $50,489 $50,489 10.0 $51,755
WCP - Administration 2 $191,903 $191,903 3.0 $317,629
WildCare Institute 2 $107,506 $107,506 23.0 $121,859
Workforce Development 2 $88,340 $88,340 7.5 $94,476
Admin - CEO 1 $696,344 $696,344 4.0 $696,344
Animal Health Resident 1 $46,659 $46,659 2.0 $46,659
Ed - Library 1 $110,797 $110,797 37.0 $110,797
Ed - Overnights 1 $55,233 $55,233 2.0 $55,233
FS - Starbucks 1 $64,437 $64,437 3.0 $64,437
Guest Relations 1 $61,104 $61,104 8.0 $61,104
ICM One Health Education 1 $21,361 $21,361 1.0 $21,361
Parents Program 1 $66,791 $66,791 23.0 $66,791
Parking Lots 1 $64,815 $64,815 10.0 $64,815
RS - Safari 1 $82,354 $82,354 22.0 $82,354
RS - Tree Top 1 $74,382 $74,382 22.0 $74,382
Ticketing 1 $47,423 $47,423 5.0 $47,423
WCP - Education 1 $53,406 $53,406 2.0 $53,406

Note: To learn how the Post-Dispatch calculates figures such as the number of full-time employees or pay salary, as well as other important explanations and caveats, please see the About page.