Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
National median · BLS
$45,660
▼ -0.37%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$48,440
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
12,070
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Animal Control Workers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$33,090
25th
$37,750
Median (50th)
$45,660
75th
$57,060
90th — top pay
$68,070
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Animal Control Workers
BLS projects employment of animal control workers to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 1,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
13,800 → 14,300
+600 jobs
Projected change
+4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
10.2% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Animal Control Workers salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Animal Control Workers salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Animal Control Workers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.8
Speaking3.6
Critical Thinking3.5
Coordination3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Monitoring3.0
Reading Comprehension3.0
Service Orientation3.0
Social Perceptiveness3.0
Time Management3.0
Top knowledge areas
Public Safety and Security4.5
Law and Government4.5
English Language4.3
Customer and Personal Service4.2
Administrative3.6
Education and Training3.3
Biology3.1
Communications and Media3.1
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordSAP softwareAnimal Shelter ManagerARK Software Ark Shelter SoftwareCISCO Software ACS Animal Control SystemEsri ArcGISGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsMultiple Options Animal Shelter Management SystemRescueConnection Software ShelterConntection
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What animal control workers do
Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.
Answer inquiries from the public concerning animal control operations.
Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
Also called
ACO (Animal Control Officer)Animal Enforcement OfficerAnimal Park Code Enforcement OfficerAnimal Services OfficerAnimal AttendantAnimal Cruelty InvestigatorAnimal Instructor OfficerAnimal Ordinance Enforcement OfficerAnimal Safety OfficerCommunity Service Officer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Animal Control Workers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $45,660.
