What Do Animal Caretakers Do?
Animal Caretaker Job Description Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise care for pets and other nonfarm animals, such as dogs, cats, 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.
List of Animal Caretaker Job Duties
- Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
- Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
- Sell pet food and supplies.
- Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
- 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.
Skills Needed to be an Animal Caretaker
These are the skills Animal Caretakers say are the most useful in their careers:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles
- Dog Hair Clipper
- Kennel Helper
- Animal Nursery Worker
- Stable Helper
- Mobile Pet Groomer
What Kind of Animal Caretaker Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 241,500 jobs in the United States for Nonfarm Animal Caretakers.
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24.2% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 58,500 new jobs for Animal Caretakers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 46,200 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Nonfarm Animal Caretakers are California, Texas, and Florida.
Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for Animal Caretakers
The average yearly salary of an Animal Caretaker ranges between $18,160 and $37,250. The median salary for this occupation is $23,760.
How much do Nonfarm Animal Caretakers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
District of Columbia |
$35,520 |
|
Alaska |
$31,040 |
|
Massachusetts |
$30,930 |
|
Washington |
$30,130 |
|
California |
$29,830 |
|
New York |
$29,780 |
|
Hawaii |
$29,680 |
|
Rhode Island |
$28,550 |
|
Connecticut |
$28,530 |
|
Oregon |
$28,240 |
|
Maryland |
$28,140 |
|
Colorado |
$27,510 |
|
Arizona |
$27,320 |
|
Maine |
$26,810 |
|
New Jersey |
$26,700 |
|
Vermont |
$26,650 |
|
Minnesota |
$26,470 |
|
Nebraska |
$26,220 |
|
Montana |
$25,770 |
|
New Mexico |
$25,740 |
|
Virginia |
$25,440 |
|
Utah |
$25,440 |
|
Delaware |
$24,810 |
|
New Hampshire |
$24,810 |
|
Georgia |
$24,790 |
|
Florida |
$24,770 |
|
Illinois |
$24,550 |
|
Missouri |
$24,450 |
|
North Dakota |
$24,440 |
|
Michigan |
$24,390 |
|
North Carolina |
$24,110 |
|
Iowa |
$24,080 |
|
South Dakota |
$24,080 |
|
Arkansas |
$24,050 |
|
Ohio |
$24,030 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$23,960 |
|
West Virginia |
$23,790 |
|
Nevada |
$23,720 |
|
Oklahoma |
$23,710 |
|
Indiana |
$23,590 |
|
Wyoming |
$23,550 |
|
Wisconsin |
$23,530 |
|
Tennessee |
$23,530 |
|
Texas |
$23,420 |
|
South Carolina |
$23,400 |
|
Mississippi |
$23,320 |
|
Kansas |
$22,890 |
|
Louisiana |
$22,770 |
|
Idaho |
$22,760 |
|
Kentucky |
$22,730 |
|
Alabama |
$21,280 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Animal Caretakers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Animal Caretakers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
How to Become an Animal Caretaker
Learn what Animal Caretaker education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become Animal Caretaker?
Where Animal Caretakers Are Employed
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming Animal Caretakers might also be interested in the following careers:
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Are you already one of the many Animal Caretakers in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Crossing Guards
- Dishwashers
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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