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.
Animal Caretakers
SOC: 39-2021 O*NET: 39-2021.00
Median Salary
$33,470
per year
Job Growth
🚀 12.1%
Much Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
74.6
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Animal Caretakers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$24,500
10th percentile
Early Career
$28,870
25th percentile
Median
$33,470
50th percentile
Experienced
$37,160
75th percentile
Top Earners
$46,480
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$24,500
25th
$28,870
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$33,470
Mean: $34,750
75th
$37,160
90th
$46,480
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $21,980 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $28,870 and $37,160
- •Salary spread is 24.8% around the median, showing low variation
- •Total national employment: 277,300 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
High Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:392,100
Top Industries
Other Services (except Public Administration)55.7%
Personal and Laundry Services51.7%
Other Personal Services51.6%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+12.1%
Annual Openings:74,600
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)392,100
Current
2034 (Projected)439,600
+12.1%
+47,600
Employment Change
+12.1%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Faster than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Animal Caretakers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
26,200 jobs$37,2000.81x
Texas
22,690 jobs$29,8100.91x
Florida
17,610 jobs$30,3801.00x
New York
11,970 jobs$36,5000.70x
North Carolina
10,810 jobs$28,9001.23x
Illinois
10,660 jobs$34,4400.98x
Pennsylvania
10,330 jobs$30,2600.95x
Ohio
9,750 jobs$29,7000.98x
Georgia
9,620 jobs$28,8801.10x
Virginia
9,610 jobs$30,8301.31x
Massachusetts
7,470 jobs$36,9101.14x
Tennessee
7,000 jobs$29,8001.19x
Kentucky
6,980 jobs$29,3701.95x
Missouri
6,570 jobs$29,3901.25x
Colorado
6,530 jobs$35,3001.26x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Faster than average growth expected
- •High current market demand
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Monitoring
100%
#2
Coordination
88%
#3
Judgment and Decision Making
76%
#4
Reading Comprehension
64%
#5
Service Orientation
52%
#6
Active Listening
40%
Skills Overview
Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Coordination
intermediate4.4
88%
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediate3.8
76%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.2
64%
Service Orientation
basic2.6
52%
Active Listening
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Monitoring
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Coordination
intermediateImportance88%
skills
4.4/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediateImportance76%
abilities
3.8/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance64%
abilities
3.2/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance52%
skills
2.6/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers63%
5 shared skills
Registered Nurses60%
5 shared skills
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers60%
5 shared skills
Midwives60%
5 shared skills
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks60%
5 shared skills
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses60%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Coordination
Learn on the Job:
- →Service Orientation
- →Reading Comprehension
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Coordination
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Judgment and Decision Making
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Animal Caretakers
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Access
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Training & Development (3)General Responsibilities (11)Documentation & Record-Keeping (4)Operations & Execution (2)Planning & Development (1)
1
Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development100% perform100%
2
Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution82% perform88%
8
Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping79% perform86%
9
Order, unload, and store feed and supplies.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Training & Development73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on training & development activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Animal Caretakers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Animal Caretakers professionals typically have a RSC Holland code and highly value relationships
RRealistic
SSocial
CConventional
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Animal Caretakers
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.58
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.57
Self-Control
CriticalSelf-Control
Importance Level4.52
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.37
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.34
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.32
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.6
Dependability
4.6
Self-Control
4.5
Attention to Detail
4.4
Cooperation
4.3
Stress Tolerance
4.3
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.3
Concern for Others
4.2
Independence
4.1
Initiative
4.0
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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