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Animal Caretakers in Illinois

Want to work as an Animal Caretakers in Illinois? Here’s what the data says. 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. Excludes “Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers” (31-9096) and “Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals” (45-2093).

What do Animal Caretakers Make in Illinois?

For animal caretakers working in Illinois, the median annual wage is $34,440 per year (or roughly $16.56/hour).Annual wages span from $29,120 at the 10th percentile to $48,240 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$29,120	$14.00
25th percentile	$29,900	$14.38
Median (50th)	$34,440	$16.56
75th percentile	$36,360	$17.48
90th percentile	$48,240	$23.19

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Illinois compared to the national average — is 0.98.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, animal caretakers earn a median of $22,332 per year ($10.74/hour), above the Illinois median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 123,831 animal caretakers across the United States. In Illinois alone, approximately 10,660 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 3,750 animal caretakers.

Top Illinois Metros for Animal Caretakers

These are the Illinois metros with the most animal caretakers in Illinois.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	8,210	$35,090
Peoria, IL	300	$30,190
Rockford, IL	230	$30,210
Bloomington, IL	190	$30,350
Champaign-Urbana, IL	160	$29,960
Springfield, IL	160	$30,060
Decatur, IL	90	$29,580
Kankakee, IL	70	$29,240

Top States for Animal Caretakers Employment

View the states that employ the most animal caretakers work.

State	Number Employed
California	26,200
Texas	22,690
Florida	17,610
New York	11,970
North Carolina	10,810
Illinois	10,660
Pennsylvania	10,330
Ohio	9,750
Georgia	9,620
Virginia	9,610
Massachusetts	7,470
Tennessee	7,000
Kentucky	6,980
Missouri	6,570
Colorado	6,530
Michigan	6,480
Maryland	6,380
Washington	6,320
Indiana	6,200
New Jersey	6,010

Highest-Paying States for Animal Caretakers

Where animal caretakers earn the most: animal caretakers.

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

Skills

Key animal caretakers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for animal caretakers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, animal caretakers typically:

• 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.
• Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
• Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.
• Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
• Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Processing Information

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access

Related Careers

Related occupations to animal caretakers include:

• Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
• Animal Scientists
• Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Veterinarians
• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Also Known As

Animal Care Attendant, Animal Care Giver (ACG), Animal Care Service Worker, Animal Care Specialist, Animal Care Taker, Animal Care Technician, Animal Caregiver, Animal Caretaker, Animal Daycare Provider, Animal Feeder, Animal Groomer, Animal Handler, Animal Health Technician, Animal Keeper, Animal Nursery Worker.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-2021.00