Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Animal control workers help communities by working directly with the public and handling situations that involve animals. The role combines customer service, problem solving, and significant physical strength and stamina, so it suits people who are comfortable staying active and interacting with a wide range of people. Nationally, there are about 12,000 jobs in this occupation, with projected employment growth of 3.9%. About 1,000 openings are expected each year, which can come from both new positions and turnover. The median annual salary nationwide is $45,830, with the potential for higher pay in certain states and metro areas. Strong interpersonal skills, speaking and listening, and adaptability are important, as workers often respond to changing situations. Being detail oriented, using science, and applying project management and creativity and innovation can also support long-term success. People drawn to protective or service-oriented careers may also want to explore related options like protective service workers, physical therapist assistants, or dental assistants as alternatives.
Animal control workers earn a national median annual salary of $45,830, but pay can vary significantly by location. Several states stand out with higher median wages, including Washington at $66,440, California at $62,630, Massachusetts at $60,930, and Colorado at $58,470. New York’s state-level median is $48,420. Metro area data shows additional earning potential: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $77,540, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $74,260. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro has a median of $55,790, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton is at $63,140 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria at $57,510. These figures illustrate how pay can rise in certain urban areas and specific states. When evaluating earning potential, it can be useful to compare national pay to salaries in target states or metros and factor in personal preferences about where to live and work.
Animal control workers have national employment of about 12,000, with projected growth of 3.9%. This same growth rate appears in several highlighted states and metro areas, indicating a consistent projection across many locations. The occupation is expected to have about 1,000 annual openings. Those openings reflect both new roles and opportunities created when workers change jobs or leave the workforce. The combination of existing employment, projected growth, and annual openings suggests a steady flow of opportunities rather than rapid expansion. People considering this career can use these numbers to gauge how frequently jobs may become available in their region of interest. Because the growth rate and openings are quantified, you can compare the scale of this field to your own job search goals—whether you are looking for a single stable role with modest competition or plan to consider multiple locations over time. Monitoring states and metros with higher opportunity scores can further refine your strategy.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for animal control workers. Among states, California and Massachusetts stand out with relatively high CareerGPS opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.87, along with median salaries above $60,000. Washington shows the highest listed state median salary at $66,440 with an opportunity score of 56.29. New York offers a large employment base of 870 positions and an opportunity score of 65.78, while Colorado combines a $58,470 median salary with an opportunity score of 56.97. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ areas have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, suggesting a strong combination of factors there. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA also stands out with a median salary of $77,540 and a solid opportunity score. Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metros offer mid-$50,000s to low-$60,000s median pay with opportunity scores in the 60s, providing additional regional choices.
The typical education requirement for animal control workers is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a career path that does not require a college degree to enter. However, success in the role depends heavily on a well-rounded skill set. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and strong speaking and listening abilities help workers interact effectively with the public and colleagues. Adaptability and problem solving and decision making are important for handling unpredictable or evolving situations. Physical strength and stamina are key, as the job can be physically demanding. Being detail oriented supports accuracy and safety, while science knowledge can inform better decisions. Project management skills help organize tasks and resources, and creativity and innovation can improve how challenges are addressed over time. People considering this field can focus on building these skills through prior jobs, volunteering, or other life experiences, even without advanced formal education.
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