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Career

Animal Caretakers

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

What 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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $35,360 Median per year · $17.00/hr Most earn $27,250–$50,060

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
  • Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals.
  • Install, maintain, and repair animal care facility equipment, such as infrared lights, feeding devices, and cages.
  • Order, unload, and store feed and supplies.
  • Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
  • Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
12% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 62,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Other personal services39.9%
  • Self-employed (their own business)24.8%
  • Veterinary services9.3%
  • Other miscellaneous retailers8.9%
  • Social advocacy organizations3.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

Animal Caretaker is an entry-level job. You can often start with a high school diploma, and most people pick up the basics in about 1 to 3 months of hands-on work or volunteering.

  1. High school diploma

    About 4 years

    Finishing high school gives you the basic requirement for most animal care jobs, and biology or science classes build useful background.

  2. Volunteer or part-time animal care work

    1-3 months

    Helping at a shelter, kennel, or pet store teaches you feeding, cleaning, handling, and record keeping, which is the experience most employers look for.

  3. Animal Caretaker

    Entry-level job, ongoing

    In this job you feed, water, groom, exercise, and clean for animals in places like shelters, kennels, zoos, or aquariums, and you keep records of their care.

Where it can lead

  1. Animal Trainer

    1-2 years of experience first

    Trainers move beyond daily care to teaching animals behaviors and skills, so you need strong knowledge of animal behavior and a track record of working with animals.

  2. Veterinary Technologist

    1-2 years, plus a certificate or degree of experience first

    Working with a vet team means taking on medical tasks like lab work and assisting with procedures, which usually requires formal training after your caretaking experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and any animal science or agriculture classesThese courses teach basic animal health and biology, which are the foundation for caring for animals safely.
  • Volunteer at an animal shelterHands-on work with dogs, cats, or other animals builds the daily care skills employers want.
  • Get a part-time job at a pet store, kennel, or stableA steady job teaches responsibility, cleaning routines, and how to handle animals of different types.
  • Join FFA or 4-H if your school or town offers itThese groups give you practical animal experience and a chance to learn from adult mentors.
  • Take a pet first aid courseLearning basic first aid for animals shows you can respond calmly if an animal is hurt or sick.

In college

  • Take animal science, biology, or animal behavior coursesThese classes give you a deeper understanding of animal health and behavior, which helps in any animal care role.
  • Work part-time at a vet clinic, zoo, or aquariumCampus or town jobs in animal settings build experience and can lead to a reference for future work.
  • Volunteer with a local shelter or rescue groupRegular volunteering gives you real-world skills and connections in the animal care community.
  • Earn a pet first aid or animal CPR certificationA short certification shows employers you are prepared for emergencies and can be finished alongside your studies.
  • Join an animal-related student clubClubs like a pre-vet or animal welfare group let you meet people in the field and learn about different career options.

Tips for getting started

  • Volunteer at a local animal shelter or humane society. It is free to start, and it shows employers you can handle daily care and cleaning.
  • Show up reliably and keep simple notes about the animals you care for. Being dependable and keeping good records are two things employers notice right away.
  • Consider a pet first aid or animal CPR course. It is a short, low-cost way to show you know how to respond in an emergency.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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