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Occupational Employment Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019

39-2021 Animal Caretakers

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. Excludes “Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers” (31-9096) and “Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals” (45-2093).

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)
212,450 1.4 % $13.01 $27,060 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.96 $10.19 $11.91 $14.46 $18.57
Annual Wage (2) $18,630 $21,200 $24,780 $30,070 $38,630

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 98,590 27.62 $12.90 $26,830
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers 35,350 9.78 $12.45 $25,900
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 34,480 4.60 $11.97 $24,890
Social Advocacy Organizations 11,010 4.95 $12.24 $25,450
Spectator Sports 7,070 4.81 $13.66 $28,420

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 98,590 27.62 $12.90 $26,830
Support Activities for Animal Production 3,430 11.06 $15.55 $32,350
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers 35,350 9.78 $12.45 $25,900
Social Advocacy Organizations 11,010 4.95 $12.24 $25,450
Spectator Sports 7,070 4.81 $13.66 $28,420

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (8) (8) $23.99 $49,900
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 420 0.02 $20.33 $42,280
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) 140 0.01 $19.59 $40,740
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (8) (8) $18.68 $38,850
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,100 0.16 $17.11 $35,590

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 22,530 1.30 0.90 $15.27 $31,770
Texas 16,370 1.32 0.91 $11.72 $24,390
Florida 14,760 1.68 1.16 $12.82 $26,670
New York 12,450 1.31 0.90 $14.87 $30,920
Illinois 9,450 1.57 1.08 $12.61 $26,220




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)
Montana 920 1.97 1.36 $12.85 $26,740
Colorado 5,240 1.96 1.35 $13.92 $28,950
New Hampshire 1,280 1.94 1.34 $12.37 $25,720
Idaho 1,370 1.88 1.30 $10.80 $22,470
Virginia 7,160 1.85 1.28 $12.50 $25,990




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 470 0.65 0.45 $17.50 $36,400
Hawaii 640 1.00 0.69 $15.96 $33,200
Alaska 370 1.18 0.82 $15.79 $32,840
California 22,530 1.30 0.90 $15.27 $31,770
Massachusetts 4,920 1.36 0.94 $15.26 $31,740





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)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 12,040 1.25 0.86 $14.55 $30,260
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 7,820 1.67 1.16 $12.65 $26,300
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,080 1.13 0.78 $14.62 $30,410
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,940 1.55 1.07 $15.17 $31,550
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 4,590 1.74 1.20 $13.70 $28,500
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 4,450 1.55 1.07 $13.72 $28,540
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 4,270 1.40 0.97 $10.83 $22,530
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,010 1.10 0.76 $12.24 $25,470
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 3,960 1.44 1.00 $12.88 $26,780
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 3,890 1.39 0.96 $15.09 $31,390