Animal Care Associate Salary in the United States

How much does an Animal Care Associate make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Animal Care Associate in the United States is $39,764 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, an Animal Care Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,296
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,604 to $43,183
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,817
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View as table View as graph 25% $35,604 10% $31,817 90% $46,296 75% $43,183 $39,764 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Animal Care Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $43,183 $3,599 $830 $21
Average $39,764 $3,314 $765 $19
25th Percentile $35,604 $2,967 $685 $17
Check out Animal Care Associate Job Openings in the United States
Animal Care Specialist

Petco Health and Wellness - Columbus, OH

Animal Care Attendant

VCA Animal Hospitals - Columbus, OH

Associate Small Animal Veterinarian

Desort - Columbus, OH

Associate Veterinarian Bethel Animal Hospital

Mission Pet Health - Columbus, OH

Search More Animal Care Associate Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Animal Care Associate Salaries

An Animal Care Associate's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Animal Care Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Animal Care Associate's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $39,937
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $40,734
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,193
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,349
  • Expert (over 8 years): $42,454
Levels Salary
Entry Level Animal Care Associate$39,937
Intermediate Level Animal Care Associate$40,734
Senior Level Animal Care Associate$42,193
Specialist Level Animal Care Associate$42,349
Expert Level Animal Care Associate$42,454
$39,937 0 yr
$40,734 < 2 yrs
$42,193 2-4 yrs
$42,349 5-8 yrs
$42,454 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Animal Care Associate Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Animal Care Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $44,026.
  • California: $43,859.
  • Massachusetts: $43,275.

Top Paying Cities for Animal Care Associates

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $50,154
  • San Francisco: $49,605
  • Oakland: $48,559

What Skills Can Increase an Animal Care Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.29% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Housekeeping (Mentioned in 2.21% Job Postings): Housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds.
  • Reserve Management (Mentioned in 1.44% Job Postings): Reserve management is a process that ensures that adequate official public sector foreign assets are readily available to and controlled by the authorities for meeting a defined range of objectives for a country or union.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.29%
Housekeeping 2.21%
Reserve Management 1.44%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Animal Care Associate's salary.
  • Reserve Management: Can increase your salary by up to 42%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Reserve Management
$56,464
42%
Leadership
$49,704
25%
Initiative
$44,933
13%
Workday
$44,535
12%
Presentation
$44,137
11%
SOP
$42,945
8%
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Animal Care Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Animal Care Associate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Chemicals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Animal Care Associate positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Animal Care Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Animal Care Associate

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$51,693$25.030%
Chemicals$43,740$21.010%

How Education impacts an Animal Care Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Animal Care Associates enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Animal Care Associate with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $40,851 and $41,957).

Animal Care Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Animal Care Associate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 30.0%
Associates 33.2%
Bachelors 29.7%
Masters 4.8%
Doctorate 1.0%
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Animal Care Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Animal Care Associate's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Animal Care Associate

Salaries for an Animal Care Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $43,970 in 2023 to around $43,506 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Animal Care Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Animal Care Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$43,970
2024
$43,969
2025
$43,506
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $43,970
2024 $43,969
2025 $43,506
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Animal Care Associate

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Animal Care Associate

Here are companies hiring for Animal Care Associate and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Animal Care Associate Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Animal Care Associate job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Care Technician 3 (RVT) 3rd Shift Equine/Farm Animal Anesthesia, Pain Management, Critical Care - New Hire Signing Bonus. The Veterinary Medical... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Dawson

    Columbus, OH

    Dawson | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Receptionist. Administrative Customer Care. Three entry level positions. Positions just opened 5/15/26. First to mention,... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Job Title. Patient Care Associate - Full time - All hospitals. Department. The Patient Care Associate (PCA) functions as an integral member of a team of ca... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Patient Care Associate - Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation - Part-time (Second Shift). The Patient Care Associate (PCA) functions as an integral me... more

    9 Days Ago

  • The Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    The Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Screen reader users may encounter difficulty with this site. For assistance with applying, please contact hr-accessibleapplication@osu.edu. If you have que... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Pet Supplies Plus

    Columbus, OH

    Pet Supplies Plus | Columbus, OH

    Store Team Member. Did you know bearded dragons grow up to 2 feet long. Or that the average life span for an umbrella cockatoo is 50 years. Our team member... more

    9 Days Ago

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FAQ about Animal Care Associate

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Animal Care Associate?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Animal Care Associate roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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