Profession · Full profile

Animal Caretaker

Animal caretakers feed, groom, exercise, and clean living spaces for pets in shelters and kennels.

Average salary

$35,360

Salary range

$27,250 – $50,060

Training time

A few weeks to 2 years

Job market

Much faster than average

9/10

Work-life balance

Fair

5/10

Animal caretakers provide direct, daily care for animals in settings like kennels, shelters, grooming salons, and clinics. They feed animals, refill water, and clean cages, kennels, and play areas to maintain sanitary conditions. Caretakers also walk, exercise, and groom pets while checking them closely for any signs of illness or injury. Keeping detailed records of feeding, medication, and behavior is a central duty. This physical role requires hands-on dedication every day of the year to keep animals healthy and safe.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A typical morning shift focusing on morning feeding, deep cleaning, and initial exercise routines at a boarding facility.

7:00 AM
Morning feeding and hydration
Provide food and fresh water to all animals according to their individual dietary schedules.
8:00 AM
Kennel sanitation and disinfection
Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, and litter boxes while moving animals to holding areas.
10:00 AM
Exercise and outdoor play
Walk dogs and oversee group or individual play sessions in outdoor yards.
11:30 AM
Grooming and bathing
Bathe, brush, and dry animals scheduled for grooming services.
12:30 PM
Health checks and logging
Check animals for injuries or illness and record medication, feeding, and behavior details.
1:30 PM
Facility restocking and shift handoff
Restock cleaning supplies and pet food, and share updates with incoming afternoon staff.

Task breakdown

An afternoon and evening schedule at an animal shelter involving exercise, feeding, and facility upkeep.

12:00 PM
Shift briefing and intake review
Meet with coworkers to review intake notes, medical alerts, and daily priorities.
12:30 PM
Afternoon exercise and enrichment
Take dogs on walks and provide social enrichment activities for shelter cats.
2:30 PM
Play area maintenance
Clean and disinfect shared play yards, litter boxes, and common animal rooms.
4:00 PM
Grooming and coat care
Brush out coats, bathe rescue arrivals, and check skin condition.
5:30 PM
Evening feeding and medication
Distribute dinner meals, ensure water bowls are full, and log all intake.
7:00 PM
Final health observations and lockup
Conduct final checks for distress or illness, update care records, and secure enclosures.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$27,250

Average

$35,360

Maximum

$50,060

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$27,250	$35,360	$50,060
California	$35,640	$38,700	$56,270
Texas	$23,260	$32,730	$49,660
Florida	$28,950	$34,150	$50,140
New York	$33,800	$37,840	$48,740
Illinois	$31,200	$35,570	$50,160

Typical benefits

Pet care discounts

Reduced costs on boarding, grooming, supplies, or veterinary services depending on the employer.

Bringing your own pet to work

Permission to bring personal pets to the facility at certain pet-friendly employers.

Flexible part time schedules

Availability of morning, evening, weekend, or holiday shifts that fit varying personal routines.

Paid on-the-job training

Earning regular wages while learning feeding, handling, and sanitation techniques from experienced staff.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

On-the-job training

A few weeks

On-the-job training at a kennel, shelter or grooming salon

Most caretakers learn the job directly from experienced staff. Volunteering at an animal shelter is a common way to gain practical handling experience before starting.

Costs: Paid by the employer
Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent usually preferred

Certificate

Several weeks to months

Pet grooming or animal care certificate program

Certificate programs offer structured instruction in grooming techniques and specialized animal care practices.

Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree

2 years full time

Associate degree in animal science or veterinary technology

An associate degree provides deeper technical instruction useful for positions in zoos, laboratories, or veterinary clinics.

Costs: About $4,150 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public two-year college (in-district)
Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Animal handling and restraintSafely handling, leading, and holding animals of various sizes and temperaments.
Cleaning and sanitation proceduresProperly washing and disinfecting cages, kennels, play spaces, and litter boxes.
Feeding and diet routinesMeasuring portions and serving specialized food and water on set schedules.
Grooming techniquesBathing, brushing, and basic coat care for different types of animals.
Recognizing signs of illnessSpotting physical or behavioral changes indicating potential injuries or medical conditions.
Record keepingDocumenting food consumption, medication administration, and behavioral observations accurately.

Soft skills

Compassion for animalsShowing genuine care and kindness toward animals in distress, boarding, or recovery.
PatienceRemaining calm and gentle when working with frightened, energetic, or difficult animals.
ReliabilityArriving on time for scheduled shifts to ensure animals receive timely food and care.
Customer serviceCommunicating clearly and politely with pet owners and facility visitors.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
AttentiveNoticing subtle shifts in an animal's appetite, energy level, or physical well-being.
✓
PatientStaying calm and steady when handling resistant, anxious, or vocal animals.
✓
DependableMaintaining strict feeding, medication, and cleaning routines without skipping steps.
✓
CaringDemonstrating warmth and concern for the comfort and safety of all animals.
✓
Physically resilientHandling active tasks such as bending, kneeling, and lifting heavy animals and supplies.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

62,800

Trend

Growth

+12.1%

AI impact

2/10

Automatic feeders, water systems and booking software handle some routine tasks, but handling, cleaning and reading animal behavior stay hands-on human work.

Regional demand

Florida

High demand for caretakers to support shelters, boarding facilities, and grooming businesses.

5/10

Illinois

Strong employment opportunities in shelters, kennels, and pet retail facilities.

5/10

California

Solid demand for animal caretakers across boarding facilities, shelters, and veterinary practices.

4/10

New York

Steady hiring in urban and suburban pet boarding facilities, veterinary clinics, and rescue centers.

4/10

Texas

Consistent need for caretakers in boarding kennels, rescue shelters, and pet clinics.

4/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Kennel attendant
0-2 years
Entry-level role carrying out feeding, cleaning, walking, and basic record keeping.
Lead animal caretaker
2-4 years
Mid-level role overseeing daily animal routines and guiding newer caretakers.
Kennel or shelter manager
4+ years
Leadership role managing facility operations, staffing schedules, and animal care standards.

Horizontal move

Pet groomer
Specialized role focusing on bathing, styling coats, and grooming pets.
Veterinary assistant
Clinical role assisting veterinarians and technicians with animal treatments and examinations.

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Full time and part time jobs are both common, and animals need care every day of the year, including holidays.
Remote work: Remote work is not possible because the job is hands-on care of animals on site.
Physical requirements: Physically active work that involves standing, lifting heavy animals and supplies, kneeling and cleaning, with exposure to noise, odors, bites and scratches.
Typical employers: Kennels and pet boarding facilities, animal shelters and rescues, pet grooming salons, veterinary clinics, zoos and aquariums, and pet stores.
Professional associations: Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) and National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does an animal caretaker do every day?

An animal caretaker feeds animals, refills water, and cleans living spaces on a set schedule. They also walk, exercise, bathe, and groom animals to maintain their well-being. Throughout the shift, caretakers monitor animals for any signs of illness or injury, report concerns to supervisors or owners, and keep detailed records of behavior and medication.

Can an animal caretaker work remotely?

Remote work is not possible because the job requires hands-on care of animals on site. Caretakers must be physically present to feed, clean, exercise, and examine the animals in their facility. All core tasks, from scrubbing cages to bathing pets and administering food, require direct physical interaction within kennels, shelters, or clinics.

What qualifications do you need to become an animal caretaker?

Most employers usually prefer a high school diploma or equivalent, but no formal degree is required. Caretakers typically receive paid on-the-job training lasting a few weeks from experienced staff. Volunteering at an animal shelter is a common way to build handling skills, and pet first aid and CPR certification is often preferred.

What are the working hours like for animal caretakers?

Working hours often include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays because animals require care every day of the year. Some boarding facilities and shelters also schedule overnight staff. Both full time and part time positions are common, and many employers offer flexible schedules across various shifts.

What physical challenges do animal caretakers face?

This job is physically demanding and involves standing, kneeling, cleaning, and lifting heavy animals and supplies throughout the day. Caretakers are regularly exposed to animal noise and unpleasant odors. Because workers handle animals directly, there is also an ongoing risk of receiving bites and scratches during routine handling, exercise, or bathing.

Where do animal caretakers typically find work?

Animal caretakers work in kennels and pet boarding facilities, animal shelters and rescues, pet grooming salons, and veterinary clinics. They are also employed by zoos, aquariums, and pet stores. These facilities operate in communities nationwide, offering varied opportunities depending on whether an individual prefers rescue, boarding, retail, or clinical settings.

How does technology affect the work of an animal caretaker?

Technology handles some routine tasks through automatic feeders, water systems, and digital booking software. However, the core duties of the job remain hands-on human work. Machines cannot replace the human judgment required to read animal behavior, safely handle stressed pets, clean kennels, or notice early symptoms of injury and disease.

Explore further

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In depth

All about animal caretaker

The background, context and details.

What an animal caretaker does

Animal caretakers attend to the basic needs of animals across various facilities. On any given day, workers feed animals and refill fresh water according to set routines. A substantial portion of the work involves cleaning and disinfecting cages, kennels, litter boxes, and play yards to maintain sanitary living spaces. Caretakers also make sure animals stay active and healthy by walking, exercising, and playing with them. In addition to basic upkeep, workers bathe, brush, and groom animals, while monitoring them closely for signs of illness or injury. Any changes in physical condition or temperament are reported to supervisors, veterinary staff, or owners. Caretakers also maintain accurate records of feeding, medication, and daily animal behavior.

Work environment and daily schedules

This occupation is entirely on site, as caring for animals requires direct, hands-on attention. Work settings include kennels and pet boarding facilities, animal shelters and rescues, pet grooming salons, veterinary clinics, zoos, aquariums, and pet stores. The job is physically demanding, involving continuous standing, kneeling, cleaning, and lifting heavy animals and supplies. Staff regularly face noise, strong odors, and the risk of animal bites and scratches. Because animals need care every day of the year, including holidays, early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday shifts are typical. Some kennels and animal shelters also require overnight staffing. Both full time and flexible part time positions are widely available.

Education and training requirements

Most animal caretakers enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent and learn through paid on-the-job training from experienced staff. Volunteering at an animal shelter is another common way to gain initial handling experience. Those looking to work in pet grooming or specialized care can enroll in certificate programs that take several weeks to months. For positions in zoos, laboratories, or veterinary settings, an associate degree in animal science or veterinary technology provides relevant preparation. Employers may also prefer job candidates who hold pet first aid and CPR certification.

Career growth and advancement

New workers often start as kennel attendants, focusing on sanitation, feeding, and basic handling. With two to four years of experience, caretakers can advance to lead animal caretaker positions with added supervisory duties. Experienced staff with four or more years of background can become kennel or shelter managers. Caretakers can also transition laterally into specialized roles, such as becoming a pet groomer or working as a veterinary assistant.