Occupation salary profile

Animal Caretakers

SOC 39-2021 BLS OEWS May 2025

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).

National median · BLS
$35,360
▲ +5.65% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$37,300
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
266,910
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Animal Caretakers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$27,250
25th$29,820
Median (50th)$35,360
75th$40,050
90th — top pay$50,060

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 Caretakers

BLS projects employment of animal caretakers to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 62,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
365,300 → 409,400
+44,100 jobs
Projected change
+12.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
62,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
24.8% 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.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Animal Caretakers

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
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Coordination3.0
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.0
  • Reading Comprehension3.0
  • Service Orientation3.0
  • Speaking2.9
  • Critical Thinking2.8
  • Social Perceptiveness2.8
  • Writing2.8
Top knowledge areas
  • Customer and Personal Service4.2
  • Administrative3.1
  • English Language3.1
  • Education and Training2.6
  • Administration and Management2.5
  • Psychology2.5
  • Mathematics2.5
  • Public Safety and Security2.4
Software and technology used
Microsoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordCEEJS The Pet Groomer's SecretaryDaySmart Software 123PetDaySmart Software Appointment-PlusEnvision Pet GroomingGroom ProGroomsoftK9 Bytes K9 KoordinatorKennel LinkMobile Dog Grooming Software mGroomerPetscheduleThe Groomer's Write Hand

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 caretakers do

  • 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.
Also called
AquaristDog GroomerGroomerKennel Technician (Kennel Tech)Animal Care Giver (ACG)Dog BatherKennel AttendantPet GroomerPet StylistZookeeper
More job titles for this occupation (70)
Animal Care AttendantAnimal Care Service WorkerAnimal Care SpecialistAnimal Care TakerAnimal Care TechnicianAnimal CaregiverAnimal CaretakerAnimal Daycare ProviderAnimal FeederAnimal GroomerAnimal HandlerAnimal Health TechnicianAnimal KeeperAnimal Nursery WorkerAnimal RehabilitatorAnimal Shelter WorkerAnimal SitterAquarium Tank AttendantAviculturistBatherBird RaiserBird TenderCanary RaiserCare AssistantCare TakerCaretakerCat BatherCat GroomerCat SitterDog BarberDog BeauticianDog BoarderDog Daycare AttendantDog Hair ClipperDog Pound AttendantDog RaiserDog SitterDog WalkerFarrierHorseshoerHot WalkerKeeperKennel AideKennel AssistantKennel HelperKennel KeeperKennel OperatorKennel WorkerMice RaiserMonkey KeeperParakeet RaiserPet Care AssociatePet Care SpecialistPet Care WorkerPet CaretakerPet FeederPet SitterPet SpecialistPony RiderPound AttendantPound KeeperPoundmasterReptile KeeperRingmanStock FeederWalkerWild Animal CaretakerWildlife RehabilitatorZoo CaretakerZoo Keeper

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.