Find Trade Colleges
Animal Control Workers: Career Profile
Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
What Do Animal Control Workers Take On?
The core tasks performed by animal control workers span:
- Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
- Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
- Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
- Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
- Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
- Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.
- Answer inquiries from the public concerning animal control operations.
- Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
What Animal Control Workers Need to Know
Top animal control workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Animal Control Workers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- ACO (Animal Control Officer)
- Adoption Counselor
- Animal Attendant
- Animal Control Specialist
- Animal Cop
- Animal Cruelty Investigator
- Animal Enforcement Officer
- Animal Instructor Officer
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 397,974 animal control workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.3% over the projection horizon.
Animal Control Workers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $75,995 |
| Hourly median | $36.54 |
| 10th percentile | $54,558 |
| 25th percentile | $65,276 |
| 75th percentile | $86,713 |
| 90th percentile | $97,432 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Animal Control Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $66,110 |
| Washington | $65,210 |
| Alaska | $62,870 |
| California | $62,760 |
| Massachusetts | $60,120 |
| Nevada | $59,500 |
| Connecticut | $58,510 |
| Rhode Island | $57,790 |
| Colorado | $56,890 |
| New Hampshire | $54,170 |
| Maryland | $52,710 |
| Wyoming | $51,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,440 |
| South Dakota | $49,590 |
| New York | $49,210 |
| Virginia | $48,850 |
| Michigan | $48,710 |
| Iowa | $48,160 |
| Arizona | $47,260 |
| New Jersey | $46,750 |
| Wisconsin | $46,720 |
| Utah | $46,690 |
| Indiana | $46,280 |
| Montana | $46,180 |
| Florida | $45,400 |
| Missouri | $45,280 |
| Ohio | $44,950 |
| Illinois | $44,630 |
| Maine | $43,660 |
| Texas | $43,410 |
| Kansas | $43,250 |
| Tennessee | $43,020 |
| North Carolina | $42,800 |
| Idaho | $41,670 |
| South Carolina | $41,560 |
| Georgia | $39,330 |
| Louisiana | $38,200 |
| Alabama | $36,990 |
| West Virginia | $36,890 |
| Oklahoma | $36,110 |
| New Mexico | $36,090 |
| Kentucky | $36,000 |
| Vermont | $34,850 |
| Mississippi | $34,480 |
| Arkansas | $33,350 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for animal control workers shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $62,970 | 14.0% | 0.90 |
| New England | $55,445 | 6.9% | 1.52 |
| Rocky Mountains | $49,681 | 4.3% | 1.20 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,323 | 12.5% | 1.05 |
| Great Lakes | $46,008 | 10.8% | 0.83 |
| Plains States | $45,777 | 5.2% | 1.29 |
| Southwest | $41,624 | 18.9% | 1.86 |
| Southeast | $41,104 | 27.4% | 1.23 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $76,430 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $76,170 | 150 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $75,500 | 90 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $73,310 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $71,700 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $64,810 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $64,650 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $63,560 | 430 |
Top Industries Employing Animal Control Workers
The largest employers of animal control workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 830 | $46,340 |
Animal Control Workers work in the following industries:
Software Animal Control Workers Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of animal control workers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
Education and Training
Most animal control workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Coroners (Supplemental)
- Animal Scientists (Supplemental)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (Supplemental)
- Veterinarians (Supplemental)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (Primary-Short)
- Correctional Officers and Jailers (Supplemental)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-9011.00 (Animal Control Workers).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.