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Animal Caretakers
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.
Other titles employers use
Animal Care Giver (ACG) · Aquarist · Dog Bather · Dog Groomer · Groomer · Kennel Attendant · Kennel Technician (Kennel Tech) · Pet Groomer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, helping and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
- Judgment and Decision Making
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
- Static Strength
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.6 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 4.3 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.5 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 73%
- A two-year degree 14%
- A four-year degree 13%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 35,500
- Job openings each year
- 6,440
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 17.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 35,500 | 6,440 | 17.9% |
| Texas | 32,520 | 5,930 | 31.1% |
| Florida | 24,980 | 4,540 | 26.0% |
| New York | 19,220 | 240 | 13.9% |
| North Carolina | 16,240 | 2,950 | 24.8% |
| Illinois | 14,270 | 2,580 | 14.3% |
| Georgia | 13,640 | 2,480 | 27.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,610 | 2,470 | 17.7% |
| Ohio | 12,970 | 2,350 | 15.3% |
| Wisconsin | 11,870 | 2,160 | 27.6% |
| Virginia | 11,840 | 2,150 | 20.6% |
| Colorado | 11,470 | 2,080 | 22.4% |
| New Jersey | 11,030 | 2,000 | 19.2% |
| Tennessee | 10,190 | 1,850 | 16.9% |
| Michigan | 10,160 | 1,840 | 11.5% |
| Missouri | 9,670 | 1,750 | 10.1% |
| Kentucky | 9,070 | 1,640 | 11.0% |
| Arizona | 8,710 | 1,580 | 21.0% |
| Maryland | 8,680 | 1,580 | 20.9% |
| Washington | 8,270 | 1,710 | 26.6% |
| South Carolina | 7,870 | 1,430 | 23.4% |
| Indiana | 7,700 | 1,400 | 15.8% |
| Minnesota | 6,080 | 1,100 | 14.7% |
| Connecticut | 5,420 | 990 | 28.7% |
| Alabama | 5,020 | 910 | 18.7% |
| Kansas | 5,020 | 910 | 14.1% |
| Oregon | 5,020 | 910 | 20.1% |
| Oklahoma | 4,890 | 890 | 15.3% |
| Louisiana | 4,410 | 800 | 18.9% |
| Arkansas | 4,360 | 790 | 21.4% |
| Mississippi | 4,150 | 750 | 22.8% |
| Iowa | 3,860 | 700 | 14.2% |
| Massachusetts | 3,850 | 700 | 21.5% |
| Nebraska | 3,590 | 650 | 18.5% |
| Utah | 3,450 | 630 | 38.6% |
| New Mexico | 2,630 | 480 | 23.5% |
| New Hampshire | 2,520 | 460 | 18.9% |
| Idaho | 2,280 | 420 | 32.6% |
| Rhode Island | 1,870 | 340 | 17.6% |
| West Virginia | 1,660 | 300 | 23.0% |
| Maine | 1,600 | 290 | 3.2% |
| Montana | 1,540 | 280 | 27.3% |
| Delaware | 1,490 | 270 | 10.4% |
| South Dakota | 1,460 | 260 | 14.1% |
| Vermont | 1,040 | 190 | 25.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 990 | 180 | 17.9% |
| North Dakota | 880 | 160 | 17.3% |
| Alaska | 550 | 100 | 5.8% |
| District of Columbia | 340 | 60 | 30.8% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- Degrees each year
- 73
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
West Texas A & M University
- Degrees each year
- 11
- Admit rate
- 97%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
- Degrees each year
- 9
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $28,000
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Degrees each year
- 8
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 8
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Texas A & M University-Commerce
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Compare every college offering agricultural and domestic animal services