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Animal Caretakers in Kentucky

Want to work as an Animal Caretakers in Kentucky? Here’s what you need to know. 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).

What do Animal Caretakers Make in Kentucky?

For a animal caretakers working in Kentucky, the typical annual salary is $29,370 per year (or about $14.12/hour).Annual wages span from $21,830 at the 10th percentile to $44,870 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$21,830	$10.50
25th percentile	$26,350	$12.67
Median (50th)	$29,370	$14.12
75th percentile	$35,430	$17.03
90th percentile	$44,870	$21.57

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Kentucky nationwide is 1.95, suggesting that animal caretakers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, animal caretakers earn a median of $22,332 per year ($10.74/hour), above the Kentucky median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 123,831 animal caretakers across the United States. In Kentucky alone, about 6,980 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 3,750 animal caretakers.

Top Kentucky Metros for Animal Caretakers

The metro areas below employ the most animal caretakers in Kentucky.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Lexington-Fayette, KY	2,610	$29,510
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	1,910	$29,810
Bowling Green, KY	150	$27,180
Elizabethtown, KY	140	$27,760
Paducah, KY-IL	90	$29,120
Owensboro, KY	60	$29,520

Top States for Animal Caretakers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most animal caretakers work.

State	Number Employed
California	26,200
Texas	22,690
Florida	17,610
New York	11,970
North Carolina	10,810
Illinois	10,660
Pennsylvania	10,330
Ohio	9,750
Georgia	9,620
Virginia	9,610
Massachusetts	7,470
Tennessee	7,000
Kentucky	6,980
Missouri	6,570
Colorado	6,530
Michigan	6,480
Maryland	6,380
Washington	6,320
Indiana	6,200
New Jersey	6,010

Highest-Paying States for Animal Caretakers

Where animal caretakers earn the most: animal caretakers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$38,400
District of Columbia	$37,980
California	$37,200
Massachusetts	$36,910
New York	$36,500
Connecticut	$36,330
Maine	$36,310
Maryland	$35,990
Vermont	$35,600
Alaska	$35,570

Skills

The most important animal caretakers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for animal caretakers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
• Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
• Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
• Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
• Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
• Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
• Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
• Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
• Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
• Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.
• Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
• Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Processing Information

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access

Related Careers

Related occupations to animal caretakers include:

• Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
• Animal Scientists
• Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Veterinarians
• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Also Known As

Animal Care Attendant, Animal Care Giver (ACG), Animal Care Service Worker, Animal Care Specialist, Animal Care Taker, Animal Care Technician, Animal Caregiver, Animal Caretaker, Animal Daycare Provider, Animal Feeder, Animal Groomer, Animal Handler, Animal Health Technician, Animal Keeper, Animal Nursery Worker.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-2021.00