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The Kansas City Zoo offers competitive salaries that vary across different roles. As of 2025, the average salary stands at $28,691. Entry-level positions typically start at around $13.79 per hour, making the zoo an accessible workplace for many. The highest-paying jobs can be found in specialized roles such as veterinary services and management positions.
Salaries also vary significantly by department. For instance, retail jobs often provide opportunities for commissions and bonuses, whereas hospitality roles focus on service excellence. Understanding these salary structures can help potential employees make informed decisions about their career paths.
The highest paying jobs at Kansas City Zoo are media planner, public relations director, assistant director of operations, and director, membership marketing. Media planner jobs at Kansas City Zoo earn an average yearly salary of $55,714, Kansas City Zoo public relations director jobs average $54,910, and Kansas City Zoo assistant director of operations jobs average $49,828.
The lowest paying Kansas City Zoo roles include membership sales representative and parking lot attendant. Kansas City Zoo membership sales representative average salary is $23,592 per year. So while the average Kansas City Zoo salary is $28,691 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
| Rank | Job title | Average Kansas City Zoo salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media Planner | $55,714 | $26.79 |
| 2 | Public Relations Director | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| 3 | Assistant Director Of Operations | $49,828 | $23.96 |
| 4 | Director, Membership Marketing | $47,201 | $22.69 |
| 5 | Fleet Mechanic | $44,364 | $21.33 |
| 6 | Food And Beverage Manager | $43,119 | $20.73 |
| 7 | Leadership Development Program | $36,943 | $17.76 |
| 8 | Maintenance Technician | $36,102 | $17.36 |
| 9 | Event Coordinator | $35,807 | $17.21 |
| 10 | Admissions Representative | $34,615 | $16.64 |
| 11 | Team Leader | $33,717 | $16.21 |
| 12 | Customer Support Coordinator | $33,717 | $16.21 |
| 13 | Lead Cook | $32,235 | $15.50 |
| 14 | Security Officer | $32,105 | $15.44 |
| 15 | Gardener | $31,710 | $15.25 |
| 16 | Security Guard | $31,619 | $15.20 |
| 17 | Material Handler | $30,999 | $14.90 |
| 18 | Education Instructor | $30,627 | $14.72 |
| 19 | Warehouse Associate | $29,960 | $14.40 |
| 20 | Animal Care Specialist | $29,917 | $14.38 |
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Salaries at Kansas City Zoo vary depending on the department you work in. Kansas City Zoo salaries in the marketing department are the highest with an average salary of $35,510. Employees in the human resources department at Kansas City Zoo receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $33,772 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Kansas City Zoo include the plant/manufacturing and the sales organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $25,387 and $25,772, respectively.
| Rank | Department | Average Kansas City Zoo salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marketing | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| 2 | Human Resources | $33,772 | $16.24 |
| 3 | Education | $32,480 | $15.62 |
| 4 | Administrative | $31,580 | $15.18 |
| 5 | Warehouse | $29,817 | $14.34 |
| 6 | Facilities | $29,651 | $14.26 |
| 7 | Healthcare | $29,428 | $14.15 |
| 8 | Hospitality/Service | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| 9 | Retail | $27,665 | $13.30 |
| 10 | Customer Service | $27,070 | $13.01 |
| 11 | Sales | $25,772 | $12.39 |
| 12 | Plant/Manufacturing | $25,387 | $12.21 |
| Rank | Position | Average Kansas City Zoo salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Operation Manager | $54,456 | $26.18 |
| 2 | Assistant Director Of Operations | $49,828 | $23.96 |
| 3 | Team Leader | $33,717 | $16.21 |
| 4 | Shop Lead | $32,223 | $15.49 |
| 5 | Assistant Manager | $28,692 | $13.79 |
| 6 | Department Lead | $27,736 | $13.33 |
| 7 | Associate Retailer | $27,504 | $13.22 |
| 8 | Retail Merchandiser | $26,899 | $12.93 |
| 9 | Cashier | $26,073 | $12.54 |
| Rank | Position | Average Kansas City Zoo salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Food And Beverage Manager | $43,119 | $20.73 |
| 2 | Restaurant Manager | $42,034 | $20.21 |
| 3 | Lead Cook | $32,235 | $15.50 |
| 4 | Cook/Server | $27,458 | $13.20 |
| 5 | Guest Relations Representative | $26,411 | $12.70 |
| 6 | Guest Services | $25,514 | $12.27 |
| 7 | People Greeter | $25,385 | $12.20 |
| 8 | Tour Guide | $25,039 | $12.04 |
| 9 | Food And Beverage Server | $24,124 | $11.60 |
| 10 | Parking Attendant | $24,016 | $11.55 |
| 11 | Camp Counselor | $23,834 | $11.46 |
| 12 | Parking Lot Attendant | $23,729 | $11.41 |
| Rank | Position | Average Kansas City Zoo salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintenance Technician | $36,102 | $17.36 |
| 2 | Security Officer | $32,105 | $15.44 |
| 3 | Gardener | $31,710 | $15.25 |
| 4 | Security Guard | $31,619 | $15.20 |
| 5 | Grounds Supervisor | $29,548 | $14.21 |
| 6 | Landscape Labour | $28,715 | $13.81 |
| 7 | Landscaper | $28,311 | $13.61 |
| 8 | Grounds Maintenance Supervisor | $27,347 | $13.15 |
| 9 | Zoo Keeper | $26,841 | $12.90 |
| 10 | Animal Keeper | $26,755 | $12.86 |
| 11 | Cleaner | $26,053 | $12.53 |
Average salaries at Kansas City Zoo competitors, like Saint Louis Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo, and Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, vary. Saint Louis Zoo employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $38,344. The average salary at Indianapolis Zoo is $35,216 per year, and the average salary at Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is $35,128 per year.
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Louis Zoo | 3.2 | $38,344 |
| 2 | Indianapolis Zoo | 4.0 | $35,216 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden | 3.8 | $35,128 |
| 4 | Cheyenne Mountain Zoo | 3.8 | $34,880 |
| 5 | Sacramento Zoo | 3.9 | $34,855 |
| 6 | Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium | 3.6 | $30,933 |
| 7 | San Francisco Zoo | 4.2 | $29,747 |
| 8 | Brevard Zoo | 3.9 | $29,710 |
| 9 | Zoo Atlanta | 4.0 | $29,581 |
| 10 | Woodland Park Zoo | 4.5 | $29,361 |
| 11 | Houston Zoo | 4.3 | $28,933 |
| 12 | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | 3.8 | $28,674 |
| 13 | Cincinnati Zoo | 4.1 | $28,656 |
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Mechanic II | Kansas City, MO | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Maintenance Mechanic II | Kansas City, KS | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Guest Engagement Educator | Kansas City, KS | 06/11/2025 | $34,436 |
| Guest Engagement Educator | Kansas City, MO | 06/11/2025 | $34,436 |
| Animal Registrar | Kansas City, KS | 06/05/2025 | $43,827 |
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Kansas City Zoo, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Kansas City Zoo. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Kansas City Zoo. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Kansas City Zoo. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Kansas City Zoo and its employees or that of Zippia.
Kansas City Zoo may also be known as or be related to FRIENDS OF THE ZOO INC OF KANSAS CITY and Kansas City Zoo.