Animal Caretakers

What do they do?

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.

Also known as:

Animal Care Attendant, Animal Care Giver (ACG), Animal Care Specialist, Animal Care Technician, Animal Caregiver, Animal Caretaker, Animal Daycare Provider, Animal Groomer, Animal Keeper, Aquarist, Aviculturist, Bather, Cat Bather, Dog Bather, Dog Groomer, Groomer, Kennel Aide, Kennel Assistant, Kennel Attendant, Kennel Helper, Kennel Operator, Kennel Technician (Kennel Tech), Kennel Worker, Pet Care Associate, Pet Groomer, Pet Sitter, Pet Stylist, Zookeeper

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Nonfarm Animal Caretakers is projected to grow 29 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than average compared to all occupations.

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • 29.3%

    Change

    Ranks #30 in job growth rate
    1,860

    Job Openings

    Ranks #13 in net job growth

Colleges with the most graduates that become Animal Caretakers

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)
  • Master's degree  (3%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (20%)
  • Associate's degree  (11%)
  • Some college, no degree  (27%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (31%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (8%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Animal Caretakers

Select Type of Degree:

  • #1
    Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming

    • Degrees Granted

      256

    • Female Students

      205

    • Male Students

      51

    • Median Starting Salary

      $40,800

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Care for animals.
  • Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
  • Monitor health or behavior of people or animals.
  • Prepare foods or meals.
  • Clean facilities or work areas.
  • Perform housekeeping duties.
  • Maintain facilities.
  • Document client health or progress.
  • Monitor patron activities to identify problems or potential problems.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Clean tools or equipment.
  • Respond to customer inquiries.
  • Schedule appointments.
  • Perform administrative or clerical tasks.
  • Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.
  • Provide care for animals.
  • Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
  • Discuss service options or needs with clients.
  • Train animals.
  • Maintain supply or equipment inventories.
  • Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
  • Sell products or services.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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