Animal Care Counselor Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Animal Care Counselor in the United States is $49,068 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $57,055
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,069 to $53,249
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,428
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,069 10% $41,428 90% $57,055 75% $53,249 $49,068 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Animal Care Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $53,249 $4,437 $1,024 $26
Average $49,068 $4,089 $944 $24
25th Percentile $45,069 $3,756 $867 $22
Check out Animal Care Counselor Job Openings in the United States
Licensed Veterinary Technician

Animal Care of Gloucester & Mathews - GLOUCESTER, VA

Spiritual Care Counselor

Agape Care Group - COLUMBIA, MO

Spiritual Care Counselor

Agape Care Group - STAUNTON, VA

Veterinarian

Animal Health Care Center of Chillicothe - CHILLICOTHE, OH

Search More Animal Care Counselor Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Animal Care Counselor Salaries

An Animal Care Counselor'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 Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Animal Care Counselor'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): $46,282
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,601
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $48,488
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $50,114
  • Expert (over 8 years): $50,404
Levels Salary
Entry Level Animal Care Counselor$46,282
Intermediate Level Animal Care Counselor$46,601
Senior Level Animal Care Counselor$48,488
Specialist Level Animal Care Counselor$50,114
Expert Level Animal Care Counselor$50,404
$46,282 0 yr
$46,601 < 2 yrs
$48,488 2-4 yrs
$50,114 5-8 yrs
$50,404 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Animal Care Counselor 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 Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $54,329.
  • California: $54,122.
  • Massachusetts: $53,401.

Top Paying Cities for Animal Care Counselors

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: $61,890
  • San Francisco: $61,282
  • Oakland: $59,922

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.47% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Water Safety (Mentioned in 2.01% Job Postings): Water safety refers to the procedures, precautions and policies associated with safety in, on, and around bodies of water, where there is a risk of injury or drowning
  • Fundraising (Mentioned in 1.09% Job Postings): Fundraising or fund-raising (also known as "development" or "advancement") is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gather money for non-profit organizations, it is sometimes used to refer to the identification and solicitation of investors or other sources of capital for for-profit enterprises. Traditionally, fundraising consisted mostly of asking for donations on the street or at people's doors, and this is experiencing very strong growth in the form of face-to-face fundraising, but new forms of fundraising, such as online fundraising, have emerged in recent years, though these are often based on older methods such as grassroots fundraising.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.47%
Water Safety 2.01%
Fundraising 1.09%
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 Counselor's salary.
  • Casting: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Staff Development: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Chemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Casting
$56,919
16%
Staff Development
$55,447
13%
Chemistry
$54,957
12%
Negotiating
$54,466
11%
Budgeting
$53,485
9%
Coaching
$52,994
8%
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How Education impacts an Animal Care Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Animal Care Counselors 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 Counselor with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $48,783 and $50,386).

Animal Care Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Animal Care Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.1%
High School 27.8%
Associates 40.2%
Bachelors 26.8%
Masters 2.1%
Doctorate 1.0%
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Animal Care Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Animal Care Counselor'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Animal Care Counselor

Salaries for an Animal Care Counselor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $47,486 in 2023 to around $47,159 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Animal Care Counselor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Animal Care Counselor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$47,486
2024
$47,565
2025
$47,159
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $47,486
2024 $47,565
2025 $47,159
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Animal Care Counselor

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

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

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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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