Santa Barbara Zoo Salary

Santa Barbara Zoo Salary

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As of August 2026, the average annual salary for employees at Santa Barbara Zoo in the United States is $97,643. This translates to an approximate hourly wage of $47. Salaries at Santa Barbara Zoo typically range from $85,358 to $111,769 annually, reflecting the diverse roles and experience levels within the company.

How Much Does Santa Barbara Zoo Pay for Different Roles?

Explore detailed salary information for specific jobs at Santa Barbara Zoo. Based on our data, the highest paying job is the Director, Advancement, with an annual salary of $204,227. The table below outlines the annual salary ranges for most popular roles within the company.
How accurate does the salary look to you?

Current Job Openings at Santa Barbara Zoo

Ready for your next career move? Explore current job openings at Santa Barbara Zoo. Use the search tool below to find available positions by title and location and apply directly to start your career.

Is Santa Barbara Zoo’s Pay Competitive? Salary Benchmarking Analysis

How does Santa Barbara Zoo's compensation stack up against the industry and its key competitors? Our salary benchmarking analysis provides a clear comparison. The chart below visualizes this comparison alongside select peer companies.
Competitor / Benchmark Avg. Salary Variance Primary Market Influence Factor & Explanation
Maine State Aquarium $87,221
-10.7%
Maine State Aquarium focuses strategically on recruiting and training entry-level apprentices.
Natural Bridge State Park $87,074
-10.8%
Natural Bridge State Park operates with a leaner overhead structure, impacting base wage offers.
Maple Lake High School $85,523
-12.4%
Normalized for lower cost-of-living zones where Maple Lake High School primarily operates.
USD 494 Syracuse $86,293
-11.6%
USD 494 Syracuse likely leverages performance bonuses over the high base salary shown here.
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit Industry $115,341
+18.1%
Pay variances are driven by organizational scale, specialized skill requirements, or geographic cost-of-living factors.
Need More Granular Data? The analysis above provides a high-level market overview. To benchmark specific job codes, adjust for real-time cost-of-living changes, or access verified HR-reported datasets, upgrade to Salary.com for Business. Precision matters when building your compensation strategy.

How Santa Barbara Zoo's Salaries Compare to Similar Companies?

Explore companies in the same industry to compare average salaries, benefits, and career opportunities with those at Santa Barbara Zoo. Click a company name to learn more.

Employee Reviews: Working at Santa Barbara Zoo

Considering a career at Santa Barbara Zoo? Explore authentic employee reviews to learn about the work environment, career growth opportunities, pay transparency and benefits. These first-hand insights can help you set realistic compensation expectations and make informed career decisions.
Collaboration across departments is encouraged. Efforts are made to ensure everyone feels included and that their unique background is respected. There’s rarely any unexpected overtime, and policies are designed to protect employee time. Collaborative teams work on impactful projects, making public service a rewarding and motivating career choice here.
Commented in March 24, 2025
46
1
Still, the culture remains respectful and inclusive. Working with them has been a smooth and genuinely positive experience throughout. This applies not only to how we serve the public or our students but also to how employees are treated internally. Most teams are respectful, but interdepartmental coordination is weak. This education system demonstrates what happens when an organization truly valu...
Commented in May 15, 2024
11
1
The benefits package is competitive, and the hours are consistent, making it ideal for work-life balance. The job doesn’t demand overtime and offers decent benefits. Leadership is supportive and open to feedback. The benefits are good, but salaries tend to stagnate.
Commented in January 02, 2024
46
1

Santa Barbara Zoo Overview

Website
www.sbzoo.org
Founded In
1961
Employees
25 - 50 employees
Industry
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
Headquarter Address
500 Ninos Dr Santa Barbara California CA 93103
Revenue
$10 Million - $50 Million
Phone Number
+1 8059625339
Social Media
About Santa Barbara Zoo
Known as one of the world's most beautiful zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres of botanic gardens and is home to nearly 500 individual animals in open, naturalistic habitats. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), representing the highest level of animal care, and participates in AZA cooperative programs for endangered species including Asian elephant, Califo

What Benefits Does Santa Barbara Zoo Offer Beyond Salary?

A competitive compensation package is more than just a salary. Santa Barbara Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being. Below are the most common key benefits:
Social Security
401(K)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Work at Santa Barbara Zoo?
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What Is the Cost of Living Near Santa Barbara?

Understanding the cost of living near Santa Barbara is key to truly evaluating a salary offer or your current compensation at Santa Barbara Zoo.
Santa Barbara's Cost of Living Index is approximately 204.1 (104.1% more expensive than US average; 46.0% more than CA average). 'American Riviera', extremely desirable coastal city with exceptionally high housing costs and overall high cost of living. When planning your budget based on a salary from Santa Barbara Zoo, consider these typical monthly expenses:
Expense Category Estimated Monthly Cost Key Considerations / Notes
Housing (1-BR Apt Rent) $2,800 - $4,500+ A significant portion of Santa Barbara Zoo salary. Location choices impact this heavily.
Utilities (Basic) $170 - $280 Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water etc.
Public Transportation $52 (MTD monthly pass) Essential for most commuters; car ownership is costly.
Groceries (Single Person) $500 - $780 Can be higher with more dining out or specialty stores.
Personal & Leisure $550 - $1,100+ Dining out, entertainment, shopping. Highly variable.
Healthcare (Individual) $440 - $830+ Varies significantly by plan & employer contribution.
Subtotal (Excluding Taxes) $4,512 - $7,492+ This subtotal does not include income taxes (federal, state, local), which can significantly impact your take-home pay.

FAQs of Santa Barbara Zoo

1. How much does a Santa Barbara Zoo employee make?

Santa Barbara Zoo pays its employees an average of $97,643 per year. The average salary at Santa Barbara Zoo range from $85,358 to $111,769 per year. It's important to remember that these are overall averages, actual salaries vary significantly based on specific job titles, years of experience, skills, and location.

2. Which similar company tend to pay more or less than Santa Barbara Zoo?

The salary at Santa Barbara Zoo is higher than the similar company. The average annual salary at Santa Barbara Zoo is $97,643, or an hourly wage of $47, in comparison to Maine State Aquarium which pays $87,221 per year or $42 per hour.

3. How much does a Director, Advancement typically earn at Santa Barbara Zoo?

A Director, Advancement at Santa Barbara Zoo typically earns an average annual base salary of around $204,227, with a general range of $180,232 to $229,113.

4. Do employees with advanced degrees (Master's, PhD) earn more at Santa Barbara Zoo?

In many roles at Santa Barbara Zoo, particularly those requiring specialized knowledge or research capabilities (e.g., certain engineering, scientific, or financial roles), an advanced degree like a Master's or PhD can lead to a higher starting salary and faster career progression, thus higher earnings. However, for some roles, direct experience and skills might be valued as much or more than an advanced degree. The impact varies by field and specific job requirements.

5. How does the cost of living near Santa Barbara affect the perceived value of a Santa Barbara Zoo salary?

Santa Barbara's Cost of Living Index is approximately 204.1 (104.1% more expensive than US average; 46.0% more than CA average). This significantly impacts the purchasing power of a salary from Santa Barbara Zoo based there. Our "Cost of Living Insights for Santa Barbara" module details this impact, helping you assess the 'real feel' value of your compensation.

6. What kind of benefits does Santa Barbara Zoo typically offer employees?

Santa Barbara Zoo generally offers a range of employee benefits designed to support their workforce's health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), a 401(k) retirement savings plan (often with a company match), paid time off (PTO), and potentially disability and life insurance are included. For a more detailed list of benefits, please see our "Employee Benefits at Santa Barbara Zoo" section on this page.

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