Details Report for:
39-2021.00 - 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.
Sample of reported job titles: Animal Care Giver (ACG), Aquarist, Dog Bather, Dog Groomer, Groomer, Kennel Attendant, Kennel Technician (Kennel Tech), Pet Groomer, Pet Stylist, Zookeeper
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Category | Task |
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96 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
92 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
90 ![]() ![]() |
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88 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
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72 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
82 ![]() ![]() |
Supplemental | |
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81 ![]() ![]() |
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72 ![]() ![]() |
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70 ![]() ![]() |
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59 ![]() ![]() |
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47 ![]() ![]() |
Supplemental |
Technology Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Calendar and scheduling software — Appointment-Plus; Groom Pro; Mobile Dog Grooming Software mGroomer; Petschedule
- Data base user interface and query software — CEEJS The Pet Groomer's Secretary; DaySmart Software 123Pet; Microsoft Access
; The Groomer's Write Hand (see all 8 examples)
- Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Tools Used Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Aquariums — Fish tanks
- Articulating boom lift — Hydraulic bucket lifts
- Binocular light compound microscopes
- Cages or its accessories — Animal cages
- Cleaning scrapers — Algae scrapers
- Compressed air gun — Spear guns
- Dissolved oxygen meters — Portable dissolved oxygen DO meters
- Diving instruments or accessories — Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus SCUBA gear
- Domestic hair dryers — Blow dryers
- Dosing droppers — Eye droppers
- Electric hair clipper — Animal clippers; Cordless animal trimmers
- Electronic toploading balances — Benchtop electronic toploading balances
- Forklifts — Wheeled forklifts
- Handheld refractometers or polarimeters — Handheld digital refractometers
- Harnesses or its accessories — Animal harnesses
- Immersion heaters — Aquarium heaters
- Inflatable rubber boat — Inflatable rubber motor boats
- Kennels — Animal crates
- Laboratory ultraviolet UV sterilizers — Aquarium ultraviolet UV sterilizers
- Ladders — Stepladders
- Muzzles — Animal muzzles
- Oxidation reduction tester — Digital oxidation reduction potential ORP meters
- Personal computers
- Pet grooming products — Pet bathing brushes; Pin brushes; Shedding blades; Slicker brushes (see all 10 examples)
- pH meters — pH testers
- Pressure or steam cleaners — Pressure sprayers
- Protective gloves — Animal handling gloves
- Respirators — Air purifying respirators
- Safety sleeves — Animal handling sleeves
- Scaffolding
- Scissor lift or lift table — Scissor lifts
- Shears — Grooming shears
- Slings
- Special hoses — Siphon hoses
- Tongs — Aquarium tongs
- Underwater cameras
- Underwater lighting — Aquarium lighting
- Veterinary nail trimmers or cutters — Animal nail clippers; Animal nail files; Animal nail grinders
- Water filters — Aquarium filters
- Water pumps — Aquarium pumps
- Water purification equipment — Protein skimmers
- Water testing and sampling kits — Ammonia test kits; Carbonate hardness test kits; Nitrite test kits; pH test kits (see all 6 examples)
Knowledge Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Knowledge |
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80 ![]() ![]() |
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53 ![]() ![]() |
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52 ![]() ![]() |
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41 ![]() ![]() |
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10 ![]() ![]() |
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10 ![]() ![]() |
Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Skill |
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53 ![]() ![]() |
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50 ![]() ![]() |
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50 ![]() ![]() |
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50 ![]() ![]() |
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35 ![]() ![]() |
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28 ![]() ![]() |
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28 ![]() ![]() |
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25 ![]() ![]() |
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13 ![]() ![]() |
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6 ![]() ![]() |
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6 ![]() ![]() |
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3 ![]() ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
Abilities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Importance |
Work Activity |
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85 ![]() ![]() |
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81 ![]() ![]() |
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80 ![]() ![]() |
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75 ![]() ![]() |
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71 ![]() ![]() |
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21 ![]() ![]() |
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17 ![]() ![]() |
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14 ![]() ![]() |
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9 ![]() ![]() |
Detailed Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Care for animals.
- Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
- Monitor health or behavior of people or animals.
- Prepare foods or meals.
- Maintain facilities.
- Clean facilities or work areas.
- Perform housekeeping duties.
- Document client health or progress.
- Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
- Monitor patron activities to identify problems or potential problems.
- Clean tools or equipment.
- Respond to customer inquiries.
- Perform administrative or clerical tasks.
- Schedule appointments.
- Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.
- Provide care for animals.
- Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
- Discuss service options or needs with clients.
- Train animals.
- Maintain supply or equipment inventories.
- Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
- Sell products or services.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Job Zone Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Title | Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed |
Education | These occupations usually require a high school diploma. |
Related Experience | Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public. |
Job Training | Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
Job Zone Examples | These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers. |
SVP Range | (4.0 to < 6.0) |
Education
Interests Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Occupational Interest |
Interest |
|
---|---|---|
95 ![]() ![]() |
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. ![]() |
|
72 ![]() ![]() |
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39 ![]() ![]() |
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33 ![]() ![]() |
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22 ![]() ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
Work Styles Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Work Style |
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90 ![]() ![]() |
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89 ![]() ![]() |
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88 ![]() ![]() |
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84 ![]() ![]() |
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79 ![]() ![]() |
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58 ![]() ![]() |
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54 ![]() ![]() |
Related Occupations Save Table (XLS/CSV)
35-2011.00 | Cooks, Fast Food |
35-2021.00 | Food Preparation Workers ![]() |
35-3023.00 | Fast Food and Counter Workers ![]() |
35-3041.00 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant ![]() |
35-9031.00 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop ![]() |
37-2011.00 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners ![]() |
45-2092.00 | Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse |
53-7065.00 | Stockers and Order Fillers ![]() |
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wages (2019) | $11.91 hourly, $24,780 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2019) | 300,700 employees |
Projected growth (2019-2029) | ![]() |
Projected job openings (2019-2029) | 54,900 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2019) | Other Services (Except Public Administration) (37% employed in this sector)
Retail Trade (12%)
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data
and 2019-2029 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- American Fisheries Society
- American Kennel Club
- American Paint Horse Association
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- International Horsemanship Association
- National Dog Groomers Association of America
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Animal care and service workers
- Outdoor Amusement Business Association
- PADI
- Pet Sitters International
- The Association of Professional Dog Trainers
- United States Trotting Association