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Also called caretaker, pet caretaker, wild animal caretaker and zoo caretaker.
$35,360
Median pay a year
266,910
People do this work
6
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Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
A Animal Caretaker resume, filled in
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Animal Caretaker
Summary
Animal caretaker providing care for pets and other animals by feeding, grooming, exercising, and monitoring health in settings like shelters and zoos. Responsible for cleaning and maintaining animal quarters and keeping records of their care
Experience
Animal Caretaker
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Fed and watered animals according to schedules and feeding instructions
Provided treatment to sick or injured animals, or contacted veterinarians for help
Examined and observed animals to find signs of illness, disease, or injury
Mixed food, liquid formulas, and medications according to instructions and knowledge of animals
Cleaned, organized, and disinfected animal quarters and equipment, such as saddles and bridles
Exercised animals to keep them healthy in body and mind
Collected and recorded animal information, such as weight, size, and treatments received
Skills
Core Skills
Caring for animals, Administering basic health care, Monitoring health or behavior, Monitoring patron activities, Cleaning tools and equipment, Preparing meals, Maintaining facilities
Hands-On Work
Performing housekeeping duties, Cleaning work areas, Training animals
Education
High School Diploma Your school, Year
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What to put on an Animal Caretaker resume
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Fed and watered animalsHelped sick animals get treatmentChecked animals for signs of illnessMixed food and medicine for animalsCleaned and organized animal areasExercised animals for health
becomes
On your resume
Fed and watered animals according to established schedules and feeding instructions
Checked animals for signs of illness and monitored their health and behavior
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Add how often you followed the feeding schedules
The line
Fed and watered animals every day during my shifts according to established schedules and feeding instructions
Add how often you followed the feeding schedules
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Every day during my shiftsMultiple times each dayAt least twice a day
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Added to your resume
Show what improved because you monitored their health
The line
Checked animals for signs of illness and monitored their health and behavior
Show what improved because you monitored their health
Pick one that fits
Fewer animals showed signs of illnessAnimals recovered faster from sickness
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In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
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What it is made of
Skills for an Animal Caretaker resume
What this work is made of. Rung offers these and keeps the ones you claim.
What are you good at?
Caring for animals
Maintaining facilities
Administering basic health care
Monitoring health or behavior
Monitoring patron activities
Cleaning tools and equipment
Performing housekeeping duties
Cleaning work areas
Preparing meals
Training animals
Documenting client health
Explaining procedures
The work itself
What an Animal Caretaker does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
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.
What it pays
How much does an Animal Caretaker make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$29,820
Median
$35,360
75th percentile
$40,050
About 266,910 people do this work in the United States.
What it pays in each state
State
25th percentile
Median
75th percentile
AK
$32,150
$36,640
$47,560
AL
$23,920
$28,330
$34,280
AR
$28,580
$30,230
$35,210
AZ
$35,890
$38,180
$47,080
CA
$36,810
$38,700
$45,160
CO
$35,670
$37,430
$43,850
CT
$35,860
$37,310
$45,980
DC
$38,290
$44,210
$47,730
DE
$31,200
$33,910
$36,360
FL
$29,760
$34,150
$37,460
GA
$28,040
$29,860
$34,950
HI
$32,910
$40,130
$51,810
IA
$27,240
$30,080
$35,140
ID
$28,990
$32,170
$35,850
IL
$32,080
$35,570
$37,840
IN
$26,540
$29,990
$35,420
KS
$24,440
$29,830
$38,280
KY
$27,860
$30,720
$37,890
LA
$22,840
$27,910
$33,370
MA
$36,820
$39,650
$47,750
MD
$34,450
$36,780
$46,790
ME
$35,250
$37,230
$44,000
MI
$28,960
$30,320
$36,390
MN
$31,710
$36,430
$41,600
MO
$29,300
$31,230
$35,500
MS
$22,190
$26,970
$29,890
MT
$29,600
$34,210
$39,130
NC
$28,540
$30,870
$35,990
ND
$31,050
$34,040
$38,640
NE
$29,160
$31,680
$39,490
NH
$29,290
$34,790
$42,720
NJ
$34,110
$35,850
$42,340
NM
$29,070
$33,570
$37,300
NV
$28,950
$30,320
$36,240
NY
$35,640
$37,840
$43,780
OH
$28,490
$30,310
$36,310
OK
$23,920
$28,940
$35,350
OR
$35,150
$36,580
$43,780
PA
$28,400
$31,360
$36,450
PR
$22,520
$27,600
$30,400
RI
$34,860
$37,120
$43,930
SC
$28,100
$31,280
$36,570
SD
$28,710
$30,390
$35,370
TN
$28,110
$30,550
$36,170
TX
$28,460
$32,730
$41,930
UT
$29,320
$34,750
$42,010
VA
$29,490
$34,380
$38,120
VT
$33,870
$36,090
$42,840
WA
$37,140
$40,570
$48,030
WI
$28,170
$30,160
$36,850
WV
$25,220
$28,550
$34,400
WY
$25,480
$29,080
$36,570
Other names
Other names for this job
caretaker, pet caretaker, wild animal caretaker, zoo caretaker, animal care attendant, animal care giver, ACG, animal care service worker, animal care specialist, animal care taker, animal care technician, animal caregiver.
More names for this work
animal daycare provider, animal feeder, animal groomer, animal handler, animal health technician, animal keeper, animal nursery worker, animal rehabilitator, animal shelter worker, animal sitter, aquarist, aquarium tank attendant, aviculturist, bather, bird raiser, bird tender, canary raiser, care assistant, care taker, cat bather, cat groomer, cat sitter, dog barber, dog bather, dog beautician, dog boarder, dog daycare attendant, dog groomer, dog hair clipper, dog pound attendant, dog raiser, dog sitter, dog walker, farrier, groomer, horseshoer, hot walker, keeper, kennel aide, kennel assistant, kennel attendant, kennel helper, kennel keeper, kennel operator, kennel tech, kennel technician, kennel worker, mice raiser.
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This page is about the occupation Animal Caretakers. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.