Pet Care Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Pet Care Associate make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pet Care Associate in the United States is $40,731 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,423
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,470 to $44,234
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,591
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $36,470 10% $32,591 90% $47,423 75% $44,234 $40,731 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Pet Care Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $44,234 $3,686 $851 $21
Average $40,731 $3,394 $783 $20
25th Percentile $36,470 $3,039 $701 $18
Check out Pet Care Associate Job Openings in the United States
Pet Care Professional

Pet Butler - Columbus, OH

Receptionist Customer Care Associate

Dawson - Columbus, OH

Complex Care Associate Division Chief Research

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - Columbus, OH

Patient Care Associate James Extended Recovery Unit

The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Search More Pet Care Associate Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Pet Care Associate Salaries

A Pet 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 Pet Care Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pet 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): $40,908
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,725
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $43,219
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,380
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,486
Levels Salary
Entry Level Pet Care Associate$40,908
Intermediate Level Pet Care Associate$41,725
Senior Level Pet Care Associate$43,219
Specialist Level Pet Care Associate$43,380
Expert Level Pet Care Associate$43,486
$40,908 0 yr
$41,725 < 2 yrs
$43,219 2-4 yrs
$43,380 5-8 yrs
$43,486 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Pet 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 Pet Care Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $45,097.
  • California: $44,926.
  • Massachusetts: $44,327.

Top Paying Cities for Pet 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: $51,374
  • San Francisco: $50,811
  • Oakland: $49,740

What Skills Can Increase a Pet 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 a Pet 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
$57,838
42%
Leadership
$50,913
25%
Initiative
$46,026
13%
Workday
$45,618
12%
Presentation
$45,211
11%
SOP
$43,989
8%
Get Latest Data

Pet Care Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pet 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, Pet Care Associate positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pet Care Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Pet Care Associate

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$52,950$25.030%
Chemicals$44,804$22.010%

How Education impacts a Pet Care Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pet 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 a Pet Care Associate with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $40,851 and $41,957).

Pet Care Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pet 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%
view as graph

Pet Care Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pet 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 Pet Care Associate

Salaries for a Pet Care Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $45,040 in 2023 to around $44,564 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Pet Care Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Pet Care Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$45,040
2024
$45,039
2025
$44,564
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $45,040
2024 $45,039
2025 $44,564
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Pet Care Associate

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Pet Care Associate

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

Find Your Next Pet Care Associate Job

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

United States
  • Smith Pet Care Co

    Columbus, OH

    Smith Pet Care Co | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. Lead people. Drive growth. Make an impact on dogs and families every day. Dogtopia Downtown Columbus is look... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Smith Pet Care Co

    Columbus, OH

    Smith Pet Care Co | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. Date posted. February 3, 2026. Pay. $14.00 - $15.00 per hour. Job description. DO YOU LOVE DOGS. WE HAVE A G... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Travel Rn Stepdown (Pcu) Shift. Night shift - 12 hours. Start date: 09/21/2026. End date: 12/21/2026. Duration: 13 weeks. City: Columbus. State: OH more

    17 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Pet Care Associate

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Pet 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst