Nonfarm animal caretakers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Nonfarm Animal Caretakers: Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise care for pets and other nonfarm animals, such as dogs, cats, 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.
Animal care and service workers held 172,000 jobs in 2004. Almost 3 out of 4 worked as nonfarm animal caretakers; the remainder worked as animal trainers. Nonfarm animal caretakers worked primarily in boarding kennels, animal shelters, stables, grooming shops, animal hospitals, and veterinary offices. A significant number also worked for animal humane societies, racing stables, dog and horse racetrack operators, zoos, theme parks, circuses, and other amusement and recreations services. In 2004, nearly 1 out of every 3 nonfarm animal caretakers was self-employed.
Employment of animal trainers was concentrated in animal services that specialize in training horses, pets, and other animal specialties; and in commercial sports, training racehorses and dogs. About 3 in 5 animal trainers were self-employed.
Earnings are relatively low. Median hourly earnings of nonfarm animal caretakers were $8.39 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $7.16 and $10.50. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $6.17, and the top 10 percent earned more than $13.66. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of nonfarm animal caretakers in May 2004 were:
| Spectator sports | $8.48 |
| Other personal services | 8.47 |
| Social advocacy organizations | 8.15 |
| Other miscellaneous store retailers | 7.95 |
| Other professional, scientific, and technical services | 7.86 |
Median hourly earnings of animal trainers were $10.60 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.10 and $15.23. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.07, and the top 10 percent earned more than $20.62.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Animal Care and Service Workers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Nonfarm animal caretakers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 3,310 mean earnings: $19,880 (def) (IG) | $14,270 | $15,620 | $17,850 | $22,060 | $28,960 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 3,310 mean earnings: $19,880 | $14,270 | $15,620 | $17,850 | $22,060 | $28,960 |
| Manufacturing employment: 40 mean earnings: $26,940 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,720 | $21,490 | $25,920 | $31,010 | $34,570 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 550 mean earnings: $20,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,330 | $15,810 | $18,310 | $23,310 | $31,280 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 440 mean earnings: $20,510 | $15,070 | $16,360 | $18,920 | $23,180 | $30,200 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,240 | $12,020 | $13,350 | $15,970 | $25,130 | $33,750 |
| Retail Trade employment: 12,420 mean earnings: $17,230 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,560 | $15,000 | $16,620 | $18,820 | $21,940 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 12,350 mean earnings: $17,230 | $13,560 | $14,990 | $16,620 | $18,830 | $21,940 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 40 mean earnings: $18,900 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,220 | $15,160 | $17,320 | $20,650 | $30,150 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 70 mean earnings: $17,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $11,950 | $13,230 | $16,080 | $20,460 | $25,400 |
| Real Estate employment: 40 mean earnings: $20,720 | $14,030 | $16,790 | $20,040 | $23,150 | $30,800 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 22,370 mean earnings: $18,070 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,770 | $14,520 | $16,740 | $20,310 | $25,440 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 22,370 mean earnings: $18,070 | $12,770 | $14,520 | $16,740 | $20,310 | $25,440 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $30,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,150 | $19,380 | $34,370 | $40,250 | $43,270 |
| Educational Services employment: 2,090 mean earnings: $21,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,910 | $16,630 | $20,310 | $25,460 | $30,940 |
| Educational Services employment: 2,090 mean earnings: $21,450 | $14,910 | $16,630 | $20,310 | $25,460 | $30,940 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 680 mean earnings: $28,070 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,300 | $18,490 | $23,900 | $38,170 | $44,630 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 480 mean earnings: $31,730 | $18,820 | $21,360 | $31,970 | $41,100 | $47,540 |
| Hospitals employment: 40 mean earnings: $24,900 | $16,230 | $19,810 | $24,650 | $29,990 | $34,560 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $16,450 | $14,320 | $14,940 | $16,040 | $17,130 | $19,760 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 13,910 mean earnings: $21,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,010 | $15,890 | $19,320 | $25,610 | $34,340 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 6,970 mean earnings: $20,330 | $13,720 | $15,510 | $18,400 | $22,160 | $29,180 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 4,780 mean earnings: $23,890 | $14,380 | $16,640 | $21,550 | $29,870 | $36,730 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 2,160 mean earnings: $22,340 | $14,570 | $15,860 | $18,480 | $26,960 | $36,820 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 550 mean earnings: $21,820 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,400 | $16,720 | $20,260 | $25,460 | $32,770 |
| Accommodation employment: 340 mean earnings: $23,160 | $15,150 | $17,700 | $21,230 | $26,810 | $35,480 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,640 | $13,270 | $15,550 | $18,790 | $22,270 | $29,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 39,790 mean earnings: $20,100 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,270 | $15,340 | $18,030 | $23,000 | $30,520 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 30,970 mean earnings: $20,520 | $13,500 | $15,520 | $18,380 | $23,630 | $31,630 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 8,810 mean earnings: $18,630 | $12,750 | $14,740 | $17,230 | $21,560 | $27,180 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 3,570 mean earnings: $28,560 (def) (IG) | $17,040 | $21,740 | $27,780 | $35,070 | $42,260 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 3,570 mean earnings: $28,560 | $17,040 | $21,740 | $27,780 | $35,070 | $42,260 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.