Career
Animal caretakers
Feed, groom and care for animals.
$35,360
Median pay
+12.1%
Job growth, 2025–35
62,800
Openings a year
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education
None required
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
- 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.
- Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on objects & tools, then people & care?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Monitoring, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though short-term on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $35,360 a year and 62,800 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Dog/Pet/Animal GroomingCIP 01.0504
- Farrier ScienceCIP 01.0509
- AnthrozoologyCIP 30.3401
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,150 · +9.1%
- Animal Trainers$39,990 · +4.2%
- Animal Breeders$51,130 · +3.0%
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47,380 · +9.4%
- Animal Control Workers$45,660 · +4.0%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.