Um, that is not how it works and most zoos are not government based. Pay varies greatly, most union based jobs start in the mid teens though. Say $16-$17 an hour. I have seen some zoos start off as low as $10 an hour though. It really varies greatly though.

I've worked as both a zookeeper & a curator at a major AZA rated zoo & we didn't get paid hourly & no one gets a "cut" of the admissions! We got a MEAGER SALARY < $15,000 a year as a zookeeper & < $20,000 as a curator, but hella benefits as it's a city job. Most of the people have additional sources of income (publish animal studies & research articles &/or 2nd jobs &/or have working spouses) it's great resume material, but NO $$$!!!

I don't mean like a roadside, get paid from the goverment type of ZOO I mean a big, bustling, popular ZOO. This ZOO gets paid by the zookeeper. The people pay for the tickets and the zookeeper gets that money and gives it to his employees and keeps his share. So how much would he make?