Also called: Animal Nutrition Technician, Diet Kitchen Keeper
Prepares the daily meals for hundreds of zoo animals.
Chops 200 pounds of produce, thaws fish for penguins and sea lions, weighs out bugs for reptiles, and follows the nutritionist's recipe for every animal.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma; food safety training.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing about average. Steady.
Low risk for 10 years. Inventory software tracks food stock; chopping, weighing and prepping meals for hundreds of animals stays hands-on.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply on zoo job pages for commissary or diet kitchen openings First: Food handler card (a short online course)
Classes: Culinary arts CTE, Biology, Nutrition elective, Agriscience (FFA).
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.