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Animal services officer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,660median pay per year, or $21.95 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,75025th percentile
  3. $45,660median
  4. $57,06075th percentile
  5. $68,070top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

BLS counts animal services officers in the category Animal Control Workers, and their median pay was $45,660 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4%[2]
Openings per year
1,500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do animal services officers make?

BLS reports on this work under the title Animal Control Workers. In May 2025, the median wage was $45,660 a year, or $21.95 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) wage was $48,440 a year, or $23.29 an hour[7].

For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sits below the all-occupations median[1][4].

Pay varies a lot within the job. BLS publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries, not a starting salary[8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,090 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $68,070[3].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $33,090 $15.91
25th[3][9] $37,750 $18.15
Median[1] $45,660 $21.95
75th[3][9] $57,060 $27.44
90th[3][9] $68,070 $32.72

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 44 states with published data[11], Washington had the highest median wage at $66,440 a year[11]. Oregon followed at $66,130[11], then Alaska at $63,340[11], California at $62,630[11] and Massachusetts at $60,930[11]. The lowest median in the list was Arkansas at $34,410[11].

The most jobs were in Texas (1,300), California (1,210), New York (870), Florida (640) and North Carolina (460)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $77,540[13]. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH was next at $63,140[13], followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $62,810[13]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most jobs among metro areas, with 430[14]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had 400 and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX had 350[14].

Show median pay in 44 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[11]$66,440180
Oregon$66,13040
Alaska$63,34030
California$62,6301,210
Massachusetts$60,930280
Nevada$58,810100
Colorado$58,470170
Connecticut$57,130220
Rhode Island$55,06070
Iowa$54,19080
Wyoming$53,87040
Maryland$53,330140
New Jersey$52,050260
Pennsylvania$52,000n/a
Montana$50,53050
Maine$49,66090
Virginia$49,010430
New Hampshire$48,84060
New York$48,420870
Michigan$48,340260
Arizona$47,650210
Utah$47,210200
Florida$45,860640
South Dakota$45,53050
Ohio$45,220290
North Carolina$43,940460
Idaho$43,93050
Texas$43,2501,300
Indiana$43,000340
Tennessee$42,970280
Illinois$42,480410
Missouri$41,760440
Kansas$39,520190
Georgia$39,500430
South Carolina$38,790180
Louisiana$38,020120
New Mexico$37,800260
Oklahoma$37,450380
Wisconsin$37,380120
Alabama$37,340290
Kentucky$35,360190
West Virginia$35,12090
Mississippi$34,890160
Arkansas$34,410180

How to become an animal services officer

The facts we have point to a short list of steps[6]:

1) Finish high school or earn an equivalent. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry[6]. 2) You do not typically need work experience in a related job[6]. 3) BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as the typical training[6]. Our data does not say how long that takes.

In an O*NET survey of 26 workers, 65% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[15]. Another 19% said a post-secondary certificate and 12% said an associate degree[15]. The survey is small, so treat these shares as a rough picture.

O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which covers work needing very little to some preparation[16]. Our facts do not list license or exam requirements, so check with local employers for what they ask.

What animal services officers do

O*NET describes the work as handling animals to investigate mistreatment and to control abandoned, dangerous or unattended animals[17]. Job titles that workers report include Animal Control Officer, Animal Cruelty Investigator and Animal Ordinance Enforcement Officer[18]. Common tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Animal Control Workers to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 13,800 to 14,300 jobs[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5% over the same years[20]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. In 2025, 10.2% of Animal Control Workers were self-employed[21].

BLS expects about 1,500 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 5.1% of workers leave the labor force and 5.2% move to a different occupation[22].

The projection count of about 13,800 is higher than the 12,070 wage and salary jobs counted in the wage survey[23][2]. The two sources measure different things, and the projection count includes self-employed workers[2].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with a median wage below the all-occupations median, but a wide range from $33,090 at the 10th percentile to $68,070 at the 90th[1][4][3]. Where you live matters, since state medians run from $34,410 in Arkansas to $66,440 in Washington[11]. The entry path is a high school diploma or equivalent with no related experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. Projected growth of 4% is slightly above the 3.5% for all occupations[2][20]. The work involves animal investigations, paperwork and court evidence as well as handling animals[19]. Those details can help you judge whether the mix suits you.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an animal services officer make an hour?
BLS reports a median of $21.95 an hour for Animal Control Workers in May 2025[1]. The hourly range runs from $15.91 at the 10th percentile to $32.72 at the 90th[9].
What degree do you need to be an animal services officer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[6]. In an O*NET survey of 26 workers, 65% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[15].
Is animal control in demand?
BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 1,500 openings a year[2][20][5].
What is the highest paying state for animal control workers?
Washington had the highest median wage at $66,440 a year, followed by Oregon at $66,130[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Animal Control Workers in the US was $45,660 per year and $21.95 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Animal Control Workers is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 13,800 to 14,300 jobs (a change of +600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Animal Control Workers: 10th percentile $33,090, 25th percentile $37,750, 75th percentile $57,060, 90th percentile $68,070. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,500 openings for Animal Control Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Animal Control Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Animal Control Workers was $48,440 per year and $23.29 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Animal Control Workers: 10th percentile $15.91, 25th percentile $18.15, 75th percentile $27.44, 90th percentile $32.72. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Animal Control Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Animal Control Workers jobs: Texas 1,300; California 1,210; New York 870; Florida 640; North Carolina 460. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Animal Control Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $77,540; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $63,140; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $62,810; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $59,870; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $57,510; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $55,790; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $54,770; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $49,680. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Animal Control Workers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 430 (median $62,810); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 400 (median $55,790); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 350 (median $45,690); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 210 (median $49,370); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 200 (median $42,840); St. Louis, MO-IL 180 (median $45,540). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 33-9011.00 survey of workers (26 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 65%, Post-Secondary Certificate 19%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET 33-9011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Animal Control Workers. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 33-9011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: ACO (Animal Control Officer), Animal Attendant, Animal Cruelty Investigator, Animal Enforcement Officer, Animal Instructor Officer, Animal Ordinance Enforcement Officer, Animal Park Code Enforcement Officer, Animal Safety Officer. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Animal Control Workers. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections: 10.2% of Animal Control Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Animal Control Workers: 5.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 12,070 people were employed as Animal Control Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.