Protective service
Animal control worker
Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
Median pay
$45,660
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,500
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Animal control worker
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Animal control worker: 50% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
- Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
- Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
- Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
- Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
- Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.
- Answer inquiries from the public concerning animal control operations.
- Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
Also called: 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
Outlook and AI
Animal control workers held 13,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,300 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Animal control worker vs. Animal caretaker
- Animal control worker vs. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Animal control worker vs. Fish and game wardens
- Animal control worker vs. Animal trainer
- Animal control worker vs. Police officer
- Animal control worker vs. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Animal control worker vs. Animal breeder
- Animal control worker vs. Agricultural inspector
- Animal control worker vs. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Animal control worker vs. Security guard