Animal Care and Service Workers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Education Required
Most animal care and service worker positions require at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training Required
Most animal care and service workers learn through on-the-job training.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 20% (Much faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Licenses/Certifications
Although not required by law, certifications may help workers establish their credentials and enhance their skills. For example, several professional associations and hundreds of private vocational and state-approved trade schools offer certification for dog trainers.
Median pay: How much do Animal Care and Service Workers make?
$22,230 Annual Salary
$10.69 per hour

Animal care and service workers provide care for animals. They feed, groom, bathe, and exercise pets and other nonfarm animals.

What do Animal Care and Service Workers do?

Animal care and service workers typically do the following:

  • Give food and water to animals
  • Clean equipment and the living spaces of animals
  • Monitor animals and record details of their diet, physical condition, and behavior
  • Examine animals for signs of illness or injury
  • Exercise animals
  • Bathe animals, trim nails, clip hair, and attend to other grooming needs
  • Train animals to obey or to behave in a specific manner

Animal care and service workers train, feed, groom, and exercise animals. They also clean, disinfect, and repair animal cages. They play with the animals, provide companionship, and observe behavioral changes that could indicate illness or injury.

The following are types of animal care and service workers:

Careers for Animal Care and Service Workers

  • Animal care technicians
  • Animal caregivers
  • Animal caretakers
  • Animal daycare providers
  • Animal groomers
  • Animal shelter workers
  • Animal sitters
  • Animal trainers
  • Aquarists
  • Aquarium tank attendants
  • Cat and dog bathers
  • Dog bathers
  • Dog beauticians
  • Dog groomers
  • Dog handlers
  • Dog sitters
  • Dog trainers
  • Dolphin trainers
  • Groomers
  • Grooms
  • Guide dog instructors
  • Guide dog mobility instructors
  • Guide dog trainers
  • Horse breakers
  • Horse exercisers
  • Horse trainers
  • Keepers
  • Kennel aides
  • Kennel attendants
  • Kennel helpers
  • Kennel workers
  • Licensed guide dog instructors
  • Lion trainers
  • Marine mammal trainers
  • Nonfarm animal caretakers
  • Pet feeders
  • Pet groomers
  • Pet sitters
  • Pet stylists
  • Seeing eye dog trainers
  • Zookeepers

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