Animal Care Attendant Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Animal Care Attendant in the United States is $41,622 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,512
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,770 to $45,228
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,263
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View as table View as graph 25% $37,770 10% $34,263 90% $48,512 75% $45,228 $41,622 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Animal Care Attendant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $45,228 $3,769 $870 $22
Average $41,622 $3,468 $800 $20
25th Percentile $37,770 $3,147 $726 $18
Check out Animal Care Attendant Job Openings in the United States
PT Night Caregiver / Patient Care Attendant

Claremont Retirement Village - Columbus, OH

Veterinary Care Technician 3 (RVT) - Equine/Farm Animal ICU

Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Animal Care Attendant Salaries

An Animal Care Attendant'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 Attendant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Animal Care Attendant'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): $40,651
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,463
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,948
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,107
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,213
Levels Salary
Entry Level Animal Care Attendant$40,651
Intermediate Level Animal Care Attendant$41,463
Senior Level Animal Care Attendant$42,948
Specialist Level Animal Care Attendant$43,107
Expert Level Animal Care Attendant$43,213
$40,651 0 yr
$41,463 < 2 yrs
$42,948 2-4 yrs
$43,107 5-8 yrs
$43,213 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Animal Care Attendants

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: $52,498
  • San Francisco: $51,923
  • Oakland: $50,829

What Skills Can Increase an Animal Care Attendant'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 Attendant'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
$59,103
42%
Leadership
$52,027
25%
Initiative
$47,033
13%
Workday
$46,617
12%
Presentation
$46,200
11%
SOP
$44,952
8%
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Animal Care Attendant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for an Animal Care Attendant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$54,108$26.030%
Chemicals$45,784$22.010%

How Education impacts an Animal Care Attendant's Salary?

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

Animal Care Attendant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Animal Care Attendant
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 Attendant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Animal Care Attendant'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 Attendant

Salaries for an Animal Care Attendant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,757 in 2023 to around $44,284 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Animal Care Attendant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Animal Care Attendant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,757
2024
$44,756
2025
$44,284
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,757
2024 $44,756
2025 $44,284
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Animal Care Attendant

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

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

Find Your Next Animal Care Attendant Job

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

United States
  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Continuum Medical Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    Continuum Medical Staffing | Columbus, OH

    PSYCHIATRIST- CHILD/ADOLESCENT COLUMBUS OHIO We are seeking a Board-Certified Child/ Adolescent Psychiatrist for a permanent position in Columbus Ohio No V... more

    3 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    3 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

    15 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    15 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    15 Days Ago

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FAQ about Animal Care Attendant

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Animal Care Attendant 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.

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