Animal Control Workers Career, Salary and Skills
Animal Control Workers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $45,660 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 12,070. Wage data is published for 114 locations.
Occupation description
Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
O*NET code
33-9011.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$45,660
Hourly median
$21.95
Employment
12,070
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Speaking | 3.62 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Writing | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology
- Animal Shelter Manager
- ARK Software Ark Shelter Software
- CISCO Software ACS Animal Control System
- Esri ArcGIS
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Windows
Animal Control Workers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Animal Control Workers Salary in TXMedian $43,250 · Employment 1,300
- Animal Control Workers Salary in CAMedian $62,630 · Employment 1,210
- Animal Control Workers Salary in NYMedian $48,420 · Employment 870
- Animal Control Workers Salary in FLMedian $45,860 · Employment 640
- Animal Control Workers Salary in NCMedian $43,940 · Employment 460
- Animal Control Workers Salary in MOMedian $41,760 · Employment 440
- Animal Control Workers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $62,810 · Employment 430
- Animal Control Workers Salary in VAMedian $49,010 · Employment 430
- Animal Control Workers Salary in GAMedian $39,500 · Employment 430
- Animal Control Workers Salary in ILMedian $42,480 · Employment 410
- Animal Control Workers Salary in New York, NYMedian $55,790 · Employment 400
- Animal Control Workers Salary in OKMedian $37,450 · Employment 380
Related careers
- Correctional Officers and JailersNational median $58,940
- CoronersNational median $80,730
- Private Detectives and InvestigatorsNational median $51,220
- Environmental Compliance InspectorsNational median $80,730
- Transit and Railroad PoliceNational median $90,230
- Police Identification and Records OfficersNational median $93,790
- Animal ScientistsNational median $68,940
- Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsNational median $93,790
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.