Ocean Job Board
0
Organizations
0
Jobs
Assistant Aquarist
Part-time
USD 24.5-25 / hour
Posted on Oct 6, 2026
Job Posting
Assistant Aquarist- Tropical Fish and Invertebrate Team
Department: Tropical Fish and Invertebrate
Reports to: Tropical Fish and Invertebrate Team's Associate Curator
Status: Hourly, part-time, benefited position
Hours of Work: 7AM to 4PM, 3-days/24-28 hours per week (Thursday-Saturday schedule)
Position Overview
The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for an Assistant Aquarist to join the Tropical Fish and Invertebrate team. As part of the Seattle Aquarium’s Life Sciences Department, the Assistant Aquarist is responsible for assigned husbandry duties caring for the Seattle Aquarium’s fish and invertebrate animal collection. This position reports directly to one of the Tropical Fish and Invertebrate Team's Associate Curator.
Essential Functions:
- Prepare, store and distribute food according to established amounts, types and diets; monitor feeding habits and report any changes or abnormalities.
- Clean and perform routine maintenance to animal exhibits and holding areas to assure the health of animals and the presentation of the species in an attractive environment. Maintain water quality to keep aquatic animals in a healthy condition.
- Maintain records and reports regarding assigned species including daily veterinary reports, exhibit maintenance, food consumption records and other reports specific to the assigned area.
- Observe animals and evaluate behavior to determine physical and behavioral health and well-being.
- Act as role model for compliance with all Seattle Aquarium safety protocols.
- Assure the safety of animals, employees and the visiting public from injury or mishap.
- Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
- Serve as a customer service liaison through daily contacts with visitors providing information and answering questions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Support the Seattle Aquarium dive program in a non-diving capacity.
- All Aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
- Must have a clear, basic understanding of fish and invertebrate biology and technical knowledge of marine biology, water quality analysis, aquatic life support systems, and marine animal health.
- Must maintain a current and clear understanding of life support and mechanical systems for open and closed aquariums.
- Add, subtract, multiply and divide quickly and accurately.
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration and team-building skills.
- Must possess organizational skills, be self-motivated, and communicate effectively orally and in writing. Ability to use or learn various computer software products: MS Word, Excel, and Internet browsers.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear, and smell.
- Ability to work in confined spaces.
- Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Have or could obtain a CPR/First Aid Certificate.
- Must be comfortable working in and around water.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work.
Experience, education and certifications: We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education in order to meet minimum requirements.
- AA Degree in any life sciences or equivalent experience required. BA/BS in Biology, Marine Biology, or related field preferred.
- 3 months of paid or unpaid experience involving the care and husbandry of animals in a zoo, aquarium, or related environment.
- The skills and abilities listed above may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural, traditional practices, community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education.
Working Conditions:
- Requires handling, working with or exposure to large, dangerous animals, animal diseases, feces, and toxic chemicals.
- Ability to participate in team lifts of more than 50 pounds.
- Must be able to be on their feet 8 or more hours a day, be physically active through physical motions.
- May be required to work off-site or in the field.
- Required to work outdoors year-round, near water, on wet and slippery surfaces and at heights.
- Able to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays when required.
Salary and benefits: $24.50 - $25.00 per hour. Dependent on experience. Please include salary expectations in your application materials. Part-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s part-time benefits package, which includes paid sick time, medical, vision, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, a flexible spending account, an Aquarium Family Plus membership and access to a subsidized ORCA pass.
How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.
Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org.
Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.
About the Seattle Aquarium: The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our team increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing excellent care and wellbeing for over 5,000 animals to create an inspiring visitor experience, offer engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.
Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.
Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 1 million people each year guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org.