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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

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)
256,670 2.7 % $ 15.46 $ 32,160 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Animal Caretakers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 10.70 $ 12.68 $ 14.20 $ 17.04 $ 21.29
Annual Wage (2) $ 22,250 $ 26,370 $ 29,530 $ 35,450 $ 44,280


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 125,800 34.44 $ 15.13 $ 31,460
Other Miscellaneous Retailers 43,730 8.93 $ 15.73 $ 32,710
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 37,300 4.53 $ 14.28 $ 29,700
Social Advocacy Organizations 11,160 4.69 $ 14.11 $ 29,360
Spectator Sports 6,960 5.23 $ 16.15 $ 33,590

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 125,800 34.44 $ 15.13 $ 31,460
Support Activities for Animal Production 5,270 16.48 $ 17.18 $ 35,740
Other Miscellaneous Retailers 43,730 8.93 $ 15.73 $ 32,710
Spectator Sports 6,960 5.23 $ 16.15 $ 33,590
Social Advocacy Organizations 11,160 4.69 $ 14.11 $ 29,360

Top paying industries for Animal Caretakers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 450 0.02 $ 22.48 $ 46,770
Computer Systems Design and Related Services (8) (8) $ 22.07 $ 45,900
Animal Food Manufacturing 200 0.29 $ 21.67 $ 45,080
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 260 0.01 $ 20.55 $ 42,750
Real Estate (8) (8) $ 20.14 $ 41,880


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.



Map of employment of animal caretakers by state, May 2022


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 25,030 1.42 0.82 $ 18.37 $ 38,200
Texas 19,630 1.51 0.87 $ 14.51 $ 30,180
Florida 15,240 1.65 0.95 $ 14.99 $ 31,170
New York 11,950 1.31 0.76 $ 17.74 $ 36,910
Illinois 10,530 1.79 1.03 $ 16.28 $ 33,870


Map of location quotient of animal caretakers by state, May 2022


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)
Kentucky 5,860 3.08 1.78 $ 13.59 $ 28,280
New Hampshire 1,690 2.57 1.48 $ 14.95 $ 31,100
Idaho 2,010 2.52 1.45 $ 15.09 $ 31,380
Missouri 6,910 2.45 1.41 $ 14.58 $ 30,320
Rhode Island 1,150 2.39 1.38 $ 16.49 $ 34,300


Map of annual mean wages of animal caretakers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Animal Caretakers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington 6,880 2.02 1.16 $ 18.96 $ 39,450
District of Columbia 110 0.16 0.09 $ 18.73 $ 38,960
Massachusetts 7,840 2.20 1.27 $ 18.71 $ 38,930
California 25,030 1.42 0.82 $ 18.37 $ 38,200
New York 11,950 1.31 0.76 $ 17.74 $ 36,910



Map of employment of animal caretakers by area, May 2022


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 12,040 1.31 0.76 $ 17.75 $ 36,910
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,390 1.37 0.79 $ 18.02 $ 37,480
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 8,330 1.89 1.09 $ 16.69 $ 34,710
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 6,050 2.24 1.29 $ 18.58 $ 38,650
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,010 1.58 0.91 $ 14.84 $ 30,870
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 5,900 2.16 1.25 $ 13.80 $ 28,700
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,350 1.77 1.02 $ 16.89 $ 35,120
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5,330 1.92 1.11 $ 15.44 $ 32,100
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 4,830 1.58 0.91 $ 14.40 $ 29,960
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 4,250 2.08 1.20 $ 19.79 $ 41,150


Map of location quotient of animal caretakers by area, May 2022


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)
Lexington-Fayette, KY 2,020 7.54 4.34 $ 14.23 $ 29,600
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 560 6.59 3.80 $ 14.03 $ 29,190
Ocala, FL 690 6.19 3.56 $ 13.85 $ 28,810
Jacksonville, NC 240 4.75 2.73 $ 12.15 $ 25,270
Hot Springs, AR 180 4.66 2.68 $ 15.49 $ 32,220
Dover-Durham, NH-ME 210 4.22 2.43 $ 15.34 $ 31,900
Santa Fe, NM 240 4.05 2.34 $ 15.44 $ 32,120
Lawrence, KS 190 4.00 2.31 $ 12.40 $ 25,800
Asheville, NC 770 3.91 2.26 $ 13.76 $ 28,610
Muncie, IN 170 3.80 2.19 $ 13.62 $ 28,330


Map of annual mean wages of animal caretakers by area, May 2022


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 940 0.84 0.48 $ 21.13 $ 43,960
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,400 1.42 0.82 $ 20.63 $ 42,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 4,250 2.08 1.20 $ 19.79 $ 41,150
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 3,100 2.08 1.20 $ 19.12 $ 39,780
Kennewick-Richland, WA 160 1.28 0.74 $ 18.75 $ 39,000
New Bedford, MA 120 1.89 1.09 $ 18.67 $ 38,820
Santa Rosa, CA 590 2.90 1.67 $ 18.66 $ 38,810
Pine Bluff, AR 60 2.15 1.24 $ 18.64 $ 38,780
Barnstable Town, MA 300 2.98 1.72 $ 18.63 $ 38,750
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 6,050 2.24 1.29 $ 18.58 $ 38,650

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 580 1.52 0.87 $ 12.06 $ 25,080
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 500 1.90 1.09 $ 14.27 $ 29,690
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 410 1.65 0.95 $ 13.03 $ 27,100
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 400 1.24 0.72 $ 13.12 $ 27,300
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 380 1.68 0.97 $ 11.04 $ 22,970

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)
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 100 3.07 1.77 $ 16.71 $ 34,750
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 190 3.02 1.74 $ 19.92 $ 41,420
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area 160 2.64 1.52 $ 16.90 $ 35,160
Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area 340 2.57 1.48 $ 14.09 $ 29,300
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 190 2.56 1.48 $ 13.54 $ 28,170

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 190 3.02 1.74 $ 19.92 $ 41,420
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 120 1.16 0.67 $ 17.37 $ 36,140
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 310 2.47 1.43 $ 17.27 $ 35,920
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 100 1.05 0.60 $ 17.18 $ 35,740
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area 160 2.64 1.52 $ 16.90 $ 35,160


About May 2022 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.

(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 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023