Career comparison
Animal Caretaker vs. Animal Control Officer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Animal control officers earn more at the median ($45,660 vs. $35,360), while animal caretakers usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks (longer for grooming) of training). Animal caretakers feed, groom, exercise and care for pets and animals. Animal control officers protect people and animals by enforcing animal laws and rescuing animals in need.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Animal Caretaker | Animal Control Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,360 ($17.00/hr) | $45,660 ($21.95/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $27,250 – $50,060 | $33,090 – $68,070 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +12.1% (much faster than average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 62,800 | 1,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks (longer for grooming) | 1–3 months |
| Key credential | National Dog Groomers Association certification | NACA Animal Control Officer certification |
| Work setting | Caretakers work in kennels, shelters, daycares, grooming salons and pet stores, indoors and outdoors.. | Officers work outdoors and in vehicles, responding to homes, roads and public places. |
What each job does
Animal Caretaker
- Feed and water animals
- Clean enclosures and kennels
- Exercise and socialize animals
- Bathe and groom pets
- Monitor animal health and behavior
Animal Control Officer
- Respond to calls about stray and dangerous animals
- Capture and transport animals safely
- Investigate animal bites and quarantine animals
- Investigate cruelty and neglect complaints
- Enforce local animal laws and issue citations
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, helping others, physical work, and working outdoors. They sit in different fields, agriculture, landscaping & animal care and public safety & security, but share transferable skills such as patience and compassion.
Which should you choose?
Choose animal caretaker if…
- I love animals
- I don’t mind messy work
- I’m patient
Choose animal control officer if…
- I love animals
- I can stay calm with aggressive animals
- I can handle sad situations
Still torn? Take the Animal Caretaker fit quiz and the Animal Control Officer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, animal caretaker or animal control officer?
Animal Control Officers earn more at the median: $45,660 versus $35,360 for animal caretakers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Animal Caretakers typically train faster (1–4 weeks (longer for grooming)) than animal control officers (1–3 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects animal caretakers to grow +12.1% from 2025–35, compared with +4.0% for animal control officers.