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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Animal caretakers

Man walking dogs. 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.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, more than basic people skills were required for 25.0 percent of animal caretakers. Basic people skills were required for 75.0 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of animal caretakers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	54.5	45.5
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	48.3	51.7
Working around crowds	<5	>95
Telework routinely allowed	<0.5	>99.5
Supervising others	<5	>95
Supervisor present in immediate work area	65.2	34.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 29.3 percent of animal caretakers and on-the-job training was required for 93.5 percent.

No minimum education was required for 62.6 percent of animal caretakers and a high school diploma was required for 34.6 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for less than 0.5 percent of animal caretakers. Another 76.1 percent were exposed to moderate noise, 23.9 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 13.8 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 86.2 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for greater than 90 percent of animal caretakers and was not required for less than 10 percent. For 4.3 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom required, for 59.0 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was occasionally required, for 33.2 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for greater than 95 percent of animal caretakers and was not required for less than 5 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 2.3 percent of animal caretakers. On average, workers spent 14.2 percent of the workday sitting and 85.8 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of animal caretakers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	2.3	97.7
Driving	12.0	88.0
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	20.5	79.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey