Animal Caretakers Career, Salary and Skills
Animal Caretakers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $35,360 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 266,910. Wage data is published for 438 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
39-2021.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
National salary and employment
Median annual
$35,360
Hourly median
$17.00
Employment
266,910
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Service Orientation | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 2.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 2.50 |
| Speaking | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Writing | 2.75 | 2.50 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.75 | 2.25 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
Technology
- CEEJS The Pet Groomer's Secretary
- DaySmart Software 123Pet
- DaySmart Software Appointment-Plus
- Envision Pet Grooming
- Groom Pro
- Groomsoft
- K9 Bytes K9 Koordinator
- Kennel Link
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Animal Caretakers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Animal Caretakers Salary in CAMedian $38,700 · Employment 25,710
- Animal Caretakers Salary in TXMedian $32,730 · Employment 20,450
- Animal Caretakers Salary in FLMedian $34,150 · Employment 17,210
- Animal Caretakers Salary in NYMedian $37,840 · Employment 12,470
- Animal Caretakers Salary in New York, NYMedian $37,900 · Employment 11,430
- Animal Caretakers Salary in ILMedian $35,570 · Employment 11,070
- Animal Caretakers Salary in VAMedian $34,380 · Employment 10,070
- Animal Caretakers Salary in PAMedian $31,360 · Employment 9,910
- Animal Caretakers Salary in NCMedian $30,870 · Employment 9,730
- Animal Caretakers Salary in OHMedian $30,310 · Employment 9,350
- Animal Caretakers Salary in GAMedian $29,860 · Employment 9,110
- Animal Caretakers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $38,520 · Employment 9,000
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.