Animal Caretakers: Career Profile
Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.
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What Do Animal Caretakers Take On?
The core tasks performed by animal caretakers include:
- Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
- Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
- Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
- Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
- Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
- Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
- Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective animal caretakers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Animal Caretakers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Animal Care Attendant
- Animal Care Giver (ACG)
- Animal Care Service Worker
- Animal Care Specialist
- Animal Care Taker
- Animal Care Technician
- Animal Caregiver
- Animal Caretaker
Job Outlook
There are about 123,831 animal caretakers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.7% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Animal Caretakers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $22,332 |
| Hourly median | $10.74 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $26,848 |
| 90th percentile | $31,364 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $38,400 |
| District of Columbia | $37,980 |
| California | $37,200 |
| Massachusetts | $36,910 |
| New York | $36,500 |
| Connecticut | $36,330 |
| Maine | $36,310 |
| Maryland | $35,990 |
| Vermont | $35,600 |
| Alaska | $35,570 |
| Oregon | $35,310 |
| Colorado | $35,300 |
| Arizona | $35,170 |
| Rhode Island | $34,930 |
| New Jersey | $34,530 |
| Illinois | $34,440 |
| Hawaii | $34,410 |
| Minnesota | $33,790 |
| Montana | $32,290 |
| New Hampshire | $32,030 |
| Utah | $31,550 |
| Virginia | $30,830 |
| New Mexico | $30,720 |
| Delaware | $30,460 |
| North Dakota | $30,400 |
| Florida | $30,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,260 |
| Nebraska | $29,970 |
| Idaho | $29,910 |
| South Carolina | $29,900 |
| Texas | $29,810 |
| Tennessee | $29,800 |
| Michigan | $29,730 |
| Ohio | $29,700 |
| Iowa | $29,560 |
| Nevada | $29,530 |
| Wisconsin | $29,490 |
| South Dakota | $29,460 |
| Missouri | $29,390 |
| Arkansas | $29,370 |
| Kentucky | $29,370 |
| North Carolina | $28,900 |
| Georgia | $28,880 |
| Indiana | $28,800 |
| Wyoming | $28,780 |
| Oklahoma | $28,370 |
| West Virginia | $28,330 |
| Kansas | $27,970 |
| Alabama | $27,940 |
| Louisiana | $27,630 |
| Virgin Islands | $27,410 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,890 |
| Mississippi | $23,740 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for animal caretakers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $36,662 | 14.4% | 0.87 |
| New England | $35,991 | 5.6% | 1.17 |
| Middle Atlantic | $34,133 | 13.0% | 0.91 |
| Rocky Mountains | $33,251 | 4.5% | 1.15 |
| Great Lakes | $30,836 | 13.9% | 0.98 |
| Southwest | $30,562 | 12.1% | 0.96 |
| Plains States | $30,254 | 7.8% | 1.14 |
| Southeast | $29,438 | 28.6% | 1.20 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $43,670 | 1,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $42,590 | 3,520 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $39,460 | 3,780 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $38,770 | 110 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $38,420 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $38,210 | 630 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $37,920 | 280 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $37,650 | 210 |
Industry Breakdown
Most animal caretakers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 154,470 | $33,280 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 41,030 | $30,550 |
| Retail Trade | 39,800 | $32,050 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 19,510 | $35,700 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6,560 | $34,930 |
| Educational Services | 2,780 | $38,070 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,350 | $38,070 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,070 | $38,160 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of animal caretakers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Typical animal caretakers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (Supplemental)
- Animal Scientists (Supplemental)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (Supplemental)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Supplemental)
- Veterinarians (Supplemental)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (Supplemental)
- Home Health Aides (Primary-Long)
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-2021.00 (Animal Caretakers).
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