How much does an animal caretaker make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical animal caretaker in the United States makes $35,360 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check animals, prepare food and water, and clean cages or habitats. They may groom or exercise the animals and record feedings and changes in their health.
Did you know? Zoo caretakers may hide treats or use scents to spark animals’ senses and encourage natural behaviors. This is called enrichment.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $27,250 and $50,060How do you become one?
In the US, many start after high school, around age 18, and learn on the job; employers often prefer animal-care experience. Volunteering helps, while zoo jobs may require a life-science degree and experience.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
In the US, pay can differ with experience, animal-care skills, and the type of employer, such as a kennel, shelter, or zoo. Location, specialized duties, and hours or shifts can also change what someone earns.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($40,570), lowest in Mississippi ($26,970).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
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Kids' questions
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $27,250 | $35,360 | $50,060 | about 267,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,570 | about 7,000 |
| Hawaii | $40,130 | about 570 |
| Massachusetts | $39,650 | about 7,000 |
| California | $38,700 | about 26,000 |
| Arizona | $38,180 | about 6,000 |
Official definition: 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).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/animal-care-and-service-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/39-2021.00
- www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/animal-caretakers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- zoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Zookeeper-FAQ.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY