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The Shedd Aquarium is known for its commitment to education and conservation, and it reflects this in its salary offerings. The average salary stands at $29,544, with variations based on role and department. For instance, those in customer service roles can expect competitive pay, while hospitality positions also offer attractive compensation. The highest paying jobs include specialized positions that leverage unique skills.
In addition to base salaries, employees enjoy benefits that enhance their overall compensation package. Understanding these salary structures can help prospective employees align their career aspirations with the available roles. Salary insights can vary by department, so it's beneficial to consider how your skills and interests match with the opportunities at Shedd Aquarium.
The highest paying jobs at Shedd Aquarium are research director, public relations/communications manager, design consultant, and data analyst. Research director jobs at Shedd Aquarium earn an average yearly salary of $58,073, Shedd Aquarium public relations/communications manager jobs average $54,379, and Shedd Aquarium design consultant jobs average $53,223.
The lowest paying Shedd Aquarium roles include food server and food prep. Shedd Aquarium food server average salary is $23,636 per year. So while the average Shedd Aquarium salary is $29,544 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
| Rank | Job title | Average Shedd Aquarium salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research Director | $58,073 | $27.92 |
| 2 | Public Relations/Communications Manager | $54,379 | $26.14 |
| 3 | Design Consultant | $53,223 | $25.59 |
| 4 | Data Analyst | $51,539 | $24.78 |
| 5 | Designer/Art Director | $51,209 | $24.62 |
| 6 | Research Biologist | $47,908 | $23.03 |
| 7 | Graphic Designer | $46,761 | $22.48 |
| 8 | Network Associate | $42,028 | $20.21 |
| 9 | Concept Artist | $41,403 | $19.91 |
| 10 | Supervisor | $41,030 | $19.73 |
| 11 | Membership Manager | $40,436 | $19.44 |
| 12 | Learning Specialist | $39,191 | $18.84 |
| 13 | Quality Laboratory Technician | $34,938 | $16.80 |
| 14 | Event Coordinator | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| 15 | Scuba Diver | $33,475 | $16.09 |
| 16 | Animal Care Specialist | $33,277 | $16.00 |
| 17 | Administrative Assistant | $32,957 | $15.84 |
| 18 | Interpretive Program Coordinator | $32,094 | $15.43 |
| 19 | Security Officer | $32,038 | $15.40 |
| 20 | Brand Ambassador | $31,940 | $15.36 |
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Salaries at Shedd Aquarium vary depending on the department you work in. Shedd Aquarium salaries in the it department are the highest with an average salary of $43,951. Employees in the non profit/government department at Shedd Aquarium receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $39,527 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Shedd Aquarium include the hospitality/service and the customer service organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $25,896 and $26,106, respectively.
| Rank | Department | Average Shedd Aquarium salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT | $43,951 | $21.13 |
| 2 | Non Profit/Government | $39,527 | $19.00 |
| 3 | Art/Design | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| 4 | Research & Development | $36,449 | $17.52 |
| 5 | Education | $36,345 | $17.47 |
| 6 | Marketing | $31,978 | $15.37 |
| 7 | Administrative | $30,627 | $14.72 |
| 8 | Plant/Manufacturing | $30,359 | $14.60 |
| 9 | Facilities | $28,883 | $13.89 |
| 10 | Healthcare | $28,483 | $13.69 |
| 11 | Retail | $26,759 | $12.86 |
| 12 | Sales | $26,681 | $12.83 |
| 13 | Customer Service | $26,106 | $12.55 |
| 14 | Hospitality/Service | $25,896 | $12.45 |
| Rank | Position | Average Shedd Aquarium salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Care Associate | $31,039 | $14.92 |
| 2 | Customer Service Representative | $30,489 | $14.66 |
| 3 | Guest Services Associate | $27,539 | $13.24 |
| 4 | Guest Service Representative | $24,521 | $11.79 |
| Rank | Position | Average Shedd Aquarium salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nanny | $31,358 | $15.08 |
| 2 | Runner | $29,933 | $14.39 |
| 3 | Prep Cook | $29,265 | $14.07 |
| 4 | Porter | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| 5 | Cook/Server | $27,679 | $13.31 |
| 6 | Ticket Collector | $27,645 | $13.29 |
| 7 | Dish Washer | $26,341 | $12.66 |
| 8 | Food Service Worker | $26,041 | $12.52 |
| 9 | Guest Services | $25,412 | $12.22 |
| 10 | Greeter | $24,951 | $12.00 |
| 11 | Tour Guide | $24,363 | $11.71 |
| 12 | Hostess | $23,695 | $11.39 |
| 13 | Food Server | $23,636 | $11.36 |
| Rank | Position | Average Shedd Aquarium salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant Supervisor | $30,922 | $14.87 |
| 2 | Cashier | $26,511 | $12.75 |
| 3 | Sales Lead/Sales Associate | $26,254 | $12.62 |
Average salaries at Shedd Aquarium competitors, like The Art Institute of Chicago, Nashville Zoo, and New England Aquarium, vary. The Art Institute of Chicago employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $59,695. The average salary at Nashville Zoo is $42,346 per year, and the average salary at New England Aquarium is $38,746 per year.
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Art Institute of Chicago | 4.2 | $59,695 |
| 2 | Nashville Zoo | 4.1 | $42,346 |
| 3 | New England Aquarium | 4.3 | $38,746 |
| 4 | Monterey Bay Aquarium | 3.4 | $38,096 |
| 5 | Longwood Gardens | 4.4 | $36,995 |
| 6 | Tennessee Aquarium | 3.5 | $36,019 |
| 7 | Zoo Knoxville | 3.3 | $35,576 |
| 8 | The Living Desert | 4.1 | $35,449 |
| 9 | Indianapolis Zoo | 4.0 | $35,216 |
| 10 | Historic Philadelphia | 3.5 | $34,961 |
| 11 | Mystic Aquarium | 3.9 | $31,532 |
| 12 | Lincoln Park Zoo | 4.1 | $30,934 |
| 13 | National Aquarium | 3.8 | $30,531 |
| 14 | Georgia Aquarium | 4.8 | $30,138 |
| 15 | San Francisco Zoo | 4.2 | $29,747 |
| 16 | The Florida Aquarium | 4.1 | $29,378 |
| 17 | Dallas Zoo | 3.7 | $28,925 |
| 18 | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | 3.8 | $28,674 |
| 19 | Philadelphia Zoo | 4.2 | $28,587 |
| 20 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | 4.0 | $27,513 |
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Engagement Facilitator | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Assistant Director, Membership & Annual Giving | Chicago, IL | 06/19/2025 | $78,000 |
| Public Engagement Specialist | Chicago, IL | 06/19/2025 | $50,000 |
| Manager of Individual Giving | Chicago, IL | 05/02/2025 | $60,000 |
| Director of Accounting | Chicago, IL | 05/02/2025 | $85,000 |
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Shedd Aquarium, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Shedd Aquarium. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Shedd Aquarium. 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 Shedd Aquarium. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Shedd Aquarium and its employees or that of Zippia.
Shedd Aquarium may also be known as or be related to SHEDD AQUARIUM SOCIETY, Shedd Aquarium and Shedd Aquarium Society.