Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

39-2021 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. Excludes "Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers" (31-9096).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
135,070 1.6 % $10.61 $22,070 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.72 $8.41 $9.40 $11.68 $15.33
Annual Wage (2) $16,050 $17,490 $19,550 $24,290 $31,880

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Personal Services 48,250 20.61 $10.67 $22,200
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 26,770 4.62 $9.96 $20,720
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers 23,110 8.57 $9.45 $19,660
Social Advocacy Organizations 9,650 5.09 $10.18 $21,170
Spectator Sports 8,800 6.71 $10.91 $22,700

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Personal Services 48,250 20.61 $10.67 $22,200
Support Activities for Animal Production 2,420 8.97 $11.75 $24,440
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers 23,110 8.57 $9.45 $19,660
Spectator Sports 8,800 6.71 $10.91 $22,700
Social Advocacy Organizations 9,650 5.09 $10.18 $21,170

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 530 0.03 $18.76 $39,010
State Government (OES Designation) 170 0.01 $16.32 $33,950
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 80 (7) $16.25 $33,800
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 110 0.04 $14.81 $30,800
Local Government (OES Designation) 3,770 0.07 $13.92 $28,950

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 14,470 1.03 0.97 $11.46 $23,850
Texas 10,820 1.07 1.01 $9.99 $20,770
New York 8,600 1.03 0.97 $11.54 $24,010
Florida 7,830 1.10 1.04 $10.55 $21,940
Illinois 6,970 1.26 1.19 $10.74 $22,340




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Delaware 660 1.67 1.57 $11.54 $24,010
West Virginia 1,000 1.45 1.36 $9.26 $19,260
Maryland 3,570 1.45 1.36 $12.05 $25,070
Virginia 4,870 1.38 1.30 $10.35 $21,520
Arizona 3,080 1.30 1.22 $10.16 $21,140




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 110 0.17 0.16 $15.72 $32,700
Hawaii 400 0.70 0.66 $14.45 $30,050
Alaska 300 0.99 0.93 $14.01 $29,150
Maryland 3,570 1.45 1.36 $12.05 $25,070
Connecticut 1,860 1.16 1.10 $11.92 $24,790

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 5,000 1.41 1.33 $10.67 $22,190
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,800 0.76 0.72 $12.67 $26,340
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 3,440 0.90 0.85 $11.31 $23,530
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 2,900 1.32 1.24 $11.18 $23,260
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 2,850 1.25 1.17 $11.47 $23,860
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 2,730 1.09 1.03 $9.88 $20,550
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 2,590 1.30 1.22 $10.83 $22,540
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 2,390 1.42 1.34 $10.15 $21,100
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 2,040 1.65 1.55 $12.36 $25,710
Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metropolitan Division 1,970 1.64 1.54 $11.55 $24,030