Animal control workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Mean (average) | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| 90th percentile | $68,070 | $32.72 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Animal control workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 44 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,340 | $27,880 | $54,060 | 290 | 1.75 |
| Alaska | $63,340 | $46,140 | $74,420 | 30 | 1.19 |
| Arizona | $47,650 | $35,200 | $58,070 | 210 | 0.85 |
| Arkansas | $34,410 | $24,390 | $43,890 | 180 | 1.73 |
| California | $62,630 | $47,570 | $78,880 | 1,210 | 0.85 |
| Colorado | $58,470 | $43,870 | $74,230 | 170 | 0.75 |
| Connecticut | $57,130 | $37,270 | $82,000 | 220 | 1.66 |
| Florida | $45,860 | $35,100 | $61,730 | 640 | 0.83 |
| Georgia | $39,500 | $33,060 | $51,760 | 430 | 1.14 |
| Idaho | $43,930 | $32,890 | $57,470 | 50 | 0.76 |
| Illinois | $42,480 | $32,510 | $73,470 | 410 | 0.86 |
| Indiana | $43,000 | $29,120 | $59,890 | 340 | 1.37 |
| Iowa | $54,190 | $42,120 | $62,040 | 80 | 0.66 |
| Kansas | $39,520 | $35,010 | $53,620 | 190 | 1.74 |
| Kentucky | $35,360 | $27,600 | $47,580 | 190 | 1.23 |
| Louisiana | $38,020 | $28,090 | $56,240 | 120 | 0.78 |
| Maine | $49,660 | $38,050 | $59,530 | 90 | 1.8 |
| Maryland | $53,330 | $39,420 | $81,450 | 140 | 0.66 |
| Massachusetts | $60,930 | $44,370 | $78,180 | 280 | 0.98 |
| Michigan | $48,340 | $36,090 | $60,960 | 260 | 0.77 |
| Mississippi | $34,890 | $27,390 | $47,940 | 160 | 1.81 |
| Missouri | $41,760 | $31,300 | $58,840 | 440 | 1.95 |
| Montana | $50,530 | $40,230 | $57,190 | 50 | 1.26 |
| Nevada | $58,810 | $32,100 | $74,610 | 100 | 0.85 |
| New Hampshire | $48,840 | $35,000 | $64,610 | 60 | 1.07 |
| New Jersey | $52,050 | $36,890 | $81,240 | 260 | 0.78 |
| New Mexico | $37,800 | $31,250 | $46,380 | 260 | 3.89 |
| New York | $48,420 | $34,800 | $73,360 | 870 | 1.16 |
| North Carolina | $43,940 | $35,150 | $57,230 | 460 | 1.19 |
| Ohio | $45,220 | $31,940 | $59,470 | 290 | 0.68 |
| Oklahoma | $37,450 | $27,300 | $49,940 | 380 | 2.85 |
| Oregon | $66,130 | $54,950 | $82,620 | 40 | 0.26 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,000 | $47,740 | $67,370 | ||
| Rhode Island | $55,060 | $35,650 | $64,420 | 70 | 1.88 |
| South Carolina | $38,790 | $28,800 | $47,470 | 180 | 0.98 |
| South Dakota | $45,530 | $32,670 | $56,900 | 50 | 1.4 |
| Tennessee | $42,970 | $27,240 | $51,640 | 280 | 1.09 |
| Texas | $43,250 | $34,440 | $54,550 | 1,300 | 1.19 |
| Utah | $47,210 | $33,280 | $64,860 | 200 | 1.49 |
| Virginia | $49,010 | $37,010 | $60,340 | 430 | 1.35 |
| Washington | $66,440 | $39,370 | $88,180 | 180 | 0.67 |
| West Virginia | $35,120 | $27,660 | $41,590 | 90 | 1.57 |
| Wisconsin | $37,380 | $29,840 | $69,790 | 120 | 0.51 |
| Wyoming | $53,870 | $40,390 | $60,540 | 40 | 1.78 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for animal control workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 10.2%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for animal control workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- ARK Software Ark Shelter Software
- Animal Shelter Manager
- CISCO Software ACS Animal Control System
- Esri ArcGIS
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Persuasion.
Common job titles: ACO (Animal Control Officer), Animal Attendant, Animal Cruelty Investigator, Animal Enforcement Officer, Animal Instructor Officer, Animal Ordinance Enforcement Officer, Animal Park Code Enforcement Officer, Animal Safety Officer, Animal Services Officer, Community Service Officer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do animal control workers make?
The national median annual wage for animal control workers was $45,660 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $68,070. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do animal control workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is animal control workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of animal control workers to change +4.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay animal control workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($66,440), Oregon ($66,130), Alaska ($63,340). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.