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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

39-2021 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. Excludes "Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers" (31-9096) and "Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals" (45-2093).


National estimates for Animal Caretakers
Industry profile for Animal Caretakers
Geographic profile for Animal Caretakers

National estimates for Animal Caretakers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Animal Caretakers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
193,660 1.5 % $ 13.65 $ 28,380 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Animal Caretakers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 9.29 $ 10.59 $ 12.54 $ 15.13 $ 19.33
Annual Wage (2) $ 19,310 $ 22,030 $ 26,080 $ 31,480 $ 40,210


Industry profile for Animal Caretakers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Animal Caretakers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Animal Caretakers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Animal Caretakers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Personal Services 88,560 29.85 $ 13.45 $ 27,970
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 33,210 4.57 $ 12.64 $ 26,280
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers 29,440 8.78 $ 13.18 $ 27,410
Social Advocacy Organizations 10,910 4.97 $ 12.73 $ 26,470
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 6,120 0.11 $ 16.76 $ 34,850

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Animal Caretakers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Personal Services 88,560 29.85 $ 13.45 $ 27,970
Support Activities for Animal Production 3,720 11.71 $ 16.36 $ 34,040
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers 29,440 8.78 $ 13.18 $ 27,410
Spectator Sports 6,060 5.52 $ 14.11 $ 29,350
Social Advocacy Organizations 10,910 4.97 $ 12.73 $ 26,470

Top paying industries for Animal Caretakers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (8) (8) $ 27.31 $ 56,810
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 420 0.02 $ 21.34 $ 44,390
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 170 0.01 $ 21.31 $ 44,330
Traveler Accommodation 60 (7) $ 19.62 $ 40,810
Civic and Social Organizations (8) (8) $ 18.50 $ 38,470


Geographic profile for Animal Caretakers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Animal Caretakers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Animal Caretakers, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in Animal Caretakers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 19,560 1.19 0.85 $ 16.70 $ 34,730
Texas 15,180 1.25 0.90 $ 12.35 $ 25,680
Florida 12,730 1.51 1.08 $ 13.53 $ 28,150
New York 10,970 1.26 0.91 $ 15.87 $ 33,000
Illinois 9,790 1.74 1.25 $ 12.60 $ 26,220




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Animal Caretakers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Colorado 5,160 2.00 1.44 $ 14.67 $ 30,520
Kansas 2,580 1.94 1.39 $ 11.74 $ 24,420
Missouri 5,150 1.91 1.37 $ 12.63 $ 26,270
Idaho 1,310 1.83 1.31 $ 11.18 $ 23,260
New Hampshire 1,120 1.80 1.29 $ 13.97 $ 29,060




Top paying states for Animal Caretakers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 420 0.61 0.44 $ 18.56 $ 38,610
Hawaii 650 1.13 0.81 $ 16.86 $ 35,070
California 19,560 1.19 0.85 $ 16.70 $ 34,730
Washington 4,020 1.26 0.90 $ 16.41 $ 34,120
Alaska 390 1.33 0.95 $ 16.34 $ 33,980





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Animal Caretakers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 10,940 1.24 0.89 $ 15.37 $ 31,980
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 8,280 1.90 1.36 $ 12.58 $ 26,160
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,970 0.85 0.61 $ 16.90 $ 35,150
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 4,300 1.60 1.15 $ 15.59 $ 32,420
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,300 1.42 1.02 $ 15.41 $ 32,050
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,930 1.09 0.79 $ 12.36 $ 25,710
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 3,690 1.24 0.89 $ 11.70 $ 24,340
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,540 1.41 1.01 $ 14.62 $ 30,410
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 3,420 1.32 0.95 $ 15.78 $ 32,810
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 3,240 1.23 0.88 $ 12.83 $ 26,680




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Animal Caretakers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Ocala, FL 720 6.96 5.00 $ 12.28 $ 25,540
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 260 4.69 3.37 $ 12.83 $ 26,700
Jacksonville, NC 210 4.57 3.28 $ 12.11 $ 25,180
Lexington-Fayette, KY 1,060 4.10 2.94 $ 11.93 $ 24,820
Punta Gorda, FL 180 3.87 2.78 $ 12.70 $ 26,420
Hot Springs, AR 130 3.55 2.55 $ 13.19 $ 27,430
Bend-Redmond, OR 270 3.42 2.45 $ 14.95 $ 31,090
Fort Collins, CO 530 3.39 2.43 $ 13.81 $ 28,720
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 90 2.97 2.13 $ 13.54 $ 28,170
Santa Fe, NM 170 2.94 2.11 $ 14.00 $ 29,110




Top paying metropolitan areas for Animal Caretakers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 910 0.82 0.59 $ 19.89 $ 41,370
Salinas, CA 250 1.44 1.03 $ 19.15 $ 39,840
Ames, IA 130 2.88 2.07 $ 18.97 $ 39,450
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 420 2.32 1.67 $ 18.59 $ 38,660
Napa, CA 70 0.95 0.68 $ 18.32 $ 38,110
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 2,420 1.73 1.24 $ 17.97 $ 37,390
Eugene, OR 170 1.16 0.84 $ 17.54 $ 36,480
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 230 2.14 1.54 $ 17.48 $ 36,370
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 2,620 1.12 0.81 $ 17.41 $ 36,210
Urban Honolulu, HI 530 1.29 0.92 $ 17.26 $ 35,910

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Animal Caretakers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 680 1.80 1.29 $ 11.23 $ 23,360
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 510 3.37 2.42 $ 13.80 $ 28,700
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 430 1.60 1.15 $ 11.58 $ 24,080
Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area 380 2.51 1.81 $ 11.70 $ 24,330
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 370 1.97 1.42 $ 10.79 $ 22,440

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Animal Caretakers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area 210 3.48 2.50 $ 10.67 $ 22,190
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 510 3.37 2.42 $ 13.80 $ 28,700
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 210 3.10 2.23 $ 10.49 $ 21,810
Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area 380 2.51 1.81 $ 11.70 $ 24,330
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area 140 2.46 1.76 $ 15.77 $ 32,800

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Animal Caretakers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 110 1.91 1.38 $ 19.48 $ 40,520
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 110 1.15 0.83 $ 16.97 $ 35,300
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 80 0.85 0.61 $ 16.37 $ 34,050
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 150 1.62 1.16 $ 16.31 $ 33,920
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 190 1.96 1.41 $ 15.80 $ 32,860


About May 2020 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021