What You Need to Know About Animal Control Worker
Position Description Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
Life As an Animal Control Worker: What Do They Do?
- Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
- Train police officers in dog handling and training techniques for tracking, crowd control, and narcotics and bomb detection.
- Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
- Answer inquiries from the public concerning animal control operations.
- Prepare for prosecutions related to animal treatment, and give evidence in court.
- Clean facilities and equipment such as dog pens and animal control trucks.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Animal Control Worker?
Below is a list of the skills most Animal Control Workers say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Animal Control Worker Jobs
- Animal Control Officer
- Animal Attendant
- Humane Agent
- Code Enforcement Inspector
- Animal Enforcement Officer
Job Demand for Animal Control Workers
There were about 13,400 jobs for Animal Control Worker in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,200 new jobs for Animal Control Worker by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Animal Control Worker are Utah, Montana, and Wyoming. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Vermont, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Animal Control Workers Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Animal Control Workers is somewhere between $23,160 and $58,220.

Animal Control Workers who work in California, Massachusetts, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Animal Control Workers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $32,500 |
Alaska | $47,690 |
Arizona | $38,170 |
Arkansas | $29,120 |
California | $54,620 |
Colorado | $45,120 |
Connecticut | $49,570 |
Florida | $37,640 |
Georgia | $32,140 |
Idaho | $33,890 |
Illinois | $37,760 |
Indiana | $33,030 |
Iowa | $37,090 |
Kansas | $35,780 |
Kentucky | $26,950 |
Louisiana | $28,660 |
Maine | $30,450 |
Maryland | $45,540 |
Massachusetts | $48,660 |
Michigan | $39,860 |
Minnesota | $45,780 |
Mississippi | $26,190 |
Missouri | $33,350 |
Montana | $37,420 |
Nebraska | $37,650 |
Nevada | $48,450 |
New Hampshire | $42,590 |
New Jersey | $41,150 |
New Mexico | $31,060 |
New York | $37,990 |
North Carolina | $35,200 |
Ohio | $36,190 |
Oklahoma | $30,810 |
Oregon | $47,080 |
Pennsylvania | $39,580 |
Rhode Island | $43,600 |
South Carolina | $31,800 |
South Dakota | $31,770 |
Tennessee | $32,520 |
Texas | $34,640 |
Utah | $36,410 |
Vermont | $36,090 |
Virginia | $38,020 |
Washington | $49,840 |
West Virginia | $27,810 |
Wisconsin | $37,330 |
Wyoming | $38,330 |
What Tools do Animal Control Workers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Animal Control Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Geographic information system GIS software
- SAP software
- ESRI ArcGIS
How do I Become an Animal Control Worker?
Individuals working as an Animal Control Worker have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Animal Control Workers Work

Animal Control Workers work in the following industries:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being an Animal Control Worker may also be interested in:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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