Protective Service

Animal Control Workers

14/100
#559 of 825
$45,660
median pay, U.S.
12,070
employed (2024)
+3.9%
growth, 2024–34
1,300
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is animal control workers a good career?

It scores 14/100 and ranks #559 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($45,660 vs $61,390)

What animal control workers earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. animal control workers earn between $37,750 and $57,060 a year.

Best-paying states

Washington statewide
$66,440
Oregon statewide
$66,130
Alaska statewide
$63,340
California statewide
$62,630
Massachusetts statewide
$60,930
Nevada statewide
$58,810
Colorado statewide
$58,470
Connecticut statewide
$57,130
Rhode Island statewide
$55,060
Iowa statewide
$54,190
$20k $60k $100k

Best-paying metros

01 Seattle, WA $78,750
02 San Francisco, CA $77,540
03 San Jose, CA $74,260
04 Bridgeport, CT $70,410
05 Las Vegas, NV $67,860
06 Sacramento, CA $64,050
07 Boston, MA $63,140
08 Los Angeles, CA $62,810

Strongest employment concentration

01 Texas 1,300
02 California 1,210
03 New York 870
04 Florida 640
06 Missouri 440

Live animal control workers jobs

No live animal control workers openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified animal control workers openings will appear here — each shown against the $45,660 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become an animal control worker

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

High school diploma or equivalent · $38,020 median
No formal educational credential · $33,580 median
No formal educational credential · $38,100 median
Questions about becoming a animal control worker
How much do animal control workers make?

The national median wage is $45,660 a year, with the middle half earning between $37,750 and $57,060 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is animal control workers a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 14 of 100 and ranks #559 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +3.9% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a animal control worker?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do animal control workers earn the most?

Among states, Washington pays the highest median ($66,440). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →