Animal Control Workers: Career Overview
Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
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The Daily Work of Animal Control Workers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of animal control workers cover:
- 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.
What Animal Control Workers Need to Know
Top animal control workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Animal Control Workers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- ACO (Animal Control Officer)
- Adoption Counselor
- Animal Attendant
- Animal Control Specialist
- Animal Cop
- Animal Cruelty Investigator
- Animal Enforcement Officer
- Animal Instructor Officer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 397,974 animal control workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Animal Control Workers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $75,995 |
| Hourly median | $36.54 |
| 10th percentile | $54,558 |
| 25th percentile | $65,276 |
| 75th percentile | $86,713 |
| 90th percentile | $97,432 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Animal Control Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $66,110 |
| Washington | $65,210 |
| Alaska | $62,870 |
| California | $62,760 |
| Massachusetts | $60,120 |
| Nevada | $59,500 |
| Connecticut | $58,510 |
| Rhode Island | $57,790 |
| Colorado | $56,890 |
| New Hampshire | $54,170 |
| Maryland | $52,710 |
| Wyoming | $51,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,440 |
| South Dakota | $49,590 |
| New York | $49,210 |
| Virginia | $48,850 |
| Michigan | $48,710 |
| Iowa | $48,160 |
| Arizona | $47,260 |
| New Jersey | $46,750 |
| Wisconsin | $46,720 |
| Utah | $46,690 |
| Indiana | $46,280 |
| Montana | $46,180 |
| Florida | $45,400 |
| Missouri | $45,280 |
| Ohio | $44,950 |
| Illinois | $44,630 |
| Maine | $43,660 |
| Texas | $43,410 |
| Kansas | $43,250 |
| Tennessee | $43,020 |
| North Carolina | $42,800 |
| Idaho | $41,670 |
| South Carolina | $41,560 |
| Georgia | $39,330 |
| Louisiana | $38,200 |
| Alabama | $36,990 |
| West Virginia | $36,890 |
| Oklahoma | $36,110 |
| New Mexico | $36,090 |
| Kentucky | $36,000 |
| Vermont | $34,850 |
| Mississippi | $34,480 |
| Arkansas | $33,350 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for animal control workers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $62,970 | 14.0% | 0.90 |
| New England | $55,445 | 6.9% | 1.52 |
| Rocky Mountains | $49,681 | 4.3% | 1.20 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,323 | 12.5% | 1.05 |
| Great Lakes | $46,008 | 10.8% | 0.83 |
| Plains States | $45,777 | 5.2% | 1.29 |
| Southwest | $41,624 | 18.9% | 1.86 |
| Southeast | $41,104 | 27.4% | 1.23 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $76,430 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $76,170 | 150 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $75,500 | 90 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $73,310 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $71,700 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $64,810 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $64,650 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $63,560 | 430 |
Top Industries Employing Animal Control Workers
Most animal control workers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 830 | $46,340 |
Below are examples of industries where animal control workers work:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for animal control workers reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How to Become Animal Control Workers
Typical animal control workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Coroners (Supplemental)
- Animal Scientists (Supplemental)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (Supplemental)
- Veterinarians (Supplemental)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (Primary-Short)
- Correctional Officers and Jailers (Supplemental)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-9011.00 (Animal Control Workers).
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