33 Series · SOC 33-9011
Animal Control Workers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $45,660
- Median / year
- $68,070
- Top 10% earn
- +3.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 12,070
- US workers
Animal Control Workers earn a median of $45,660 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $45,660, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,090 (10th percentile) to $68,070 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 12,070 US workers. Washington pays the most ($66,440), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Animal Control Workers earn a median of $45,660, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 21% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #18 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.9% by 2033.
- $45,660
- Median annual wage
- Top 79%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #18 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $66,440. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Animal Control Workers (SOC 33-9011) pays a national median of $45,660 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $33,090 at the 10th percentile to $68,070 at the 90th, with a mean of $48,440 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 12,070 Americans work in this occupation across 44 reporting states and 101 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $66,440, which is +46% above the national figure. The top metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $78,750 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$45,660
per year
Median Hourly
$21.95/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$48,440
average
Employment
12,070
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Animal Control Workers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$45,660 Bottom 21% higher than 21% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Animal Control Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Animal Control Workers sits on the slower-growing side at +3.9% growth and $45,660 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.9%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
7.3/100K
Injury Rate
2.5/100
Danger Index
13.7/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Animal Control Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Prepare for prosecutions related to animal treatment, and give evidence in court.
- ▸ Supply animals with food, water, and personal care.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$33,090
25th Percentile
$37,750
Median
$45,660
75th Percentile
$57,060
90th Percentile
$68,070
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 44 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $66,440 | +46% above national |
| 2 | Oregon | $66,130 | +45% above national |
| 3 | Alaska | $63,340 | +39% above national |
| 4 | California | $62,630 | +37% above national |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $60,930 | +33% above national |
| 6 | Nevada | $58,810 | +29% above national |
| 7 | Colorado | $58,470 | +28% above national |
| 8 | Connecticut | $57,130 | +25% above national |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $55,060 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Iowa | $54,190 | +19% above national |
| 11 | Wyoming | $53,870 | +18% above national |
| 12 | Maryland | $53,330 | +17% above national |
| 13 | New Jersey | $52,050 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $52,000 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Montana | $50,530 | +11% above national |
| 16 | Maine | $49,660 | +9% above national |
| 17 | Virginia | $49,010 | +7% above national |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $48,840 | +7% above national |
| 19 | New York | $48,420 | +6% above national |
| 20 | Michigan | $48,340 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Arizona | $47,650 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Utah | $47,210 | +3% above national |
| 23 | Florida | $45,860 | same as national |
| 24 | South Dakota | $45,530 | same as national |
| 25 | Ohio | $45,220 | 1% below national |
| 26 | North Carolina | $43,940 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Idaho | $43,930 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Texas | $43,250 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Indiana | $43,000 | 6% below national |
| 30 | Tennessee | $42,970 | 6% below national |
| 31 | Illinois | $42,480 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Missouri | $41,760 | 9% below national |
| 33 | Kansas | $39,520 | 13% below national |
| 34 | Georgia | $39,500 | 13% below national |
| 35 | South Carolina | $38,790 | 15% below national |
| 36 | Louisiana | $38,020 | 17% below national |
| 37 | New Mexico | $37,800 | 17% below national |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $37,450 | 18% below national |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $37,380 | 18% below national |
| 40 | Alabama | $37,340 | 18% below national |
| 41 | Kentucky | $35,360 | 23% below national |
| 42 | West Virginia | $35,120 | 23% below national |
| 43 | Mississippi | $34,890 | 24% below national |
| 44 | Arkansas | $34,410 | 25% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 101 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,750 | +72% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $77,540 | +70% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,260 | +63% above national |
| 4 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $70,410 | +54% above national |
| 5 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $67,860 | +49% above national |
| 6 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,050 | +40% above national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,140 | +38% above national |
| 8 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,810 | +38% above national |
| 9 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,950 | +36% above national |
| 10 | New Haven, CT | $61,860 | +35% above national |
| 11 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $60,560 | +33% above national |
| 12 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,870 | +31% above national |
| 13 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $58,430 | +28% above national |
| 14 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $57,920 | +27% above national |
| 15 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $57,510 | +26% above national |
| 16 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $56,640 | +24% above national |
| 17 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $55,790 | +22% above national |
| 18 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $55,570 | +22% above national |
| 19 | Worcester, MA | $55,410 | +21% above national |
| 20 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $54,810 | +20% above national |
| 21 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $54,770 | +20% above national |
| 22 | Rochester, NY | $54,370 | +19% above national |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $52,000 | +14% above national |
| 24 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $50,110 | +10% above national |
| 25 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $49,890 | +9% above national |
| 26 | Cleveland, OH | $49,710 | +9% above national |
| 27 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $49,680 | +9% above national |
| 28 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,370 | +8% above national |
| 29 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $49,150 | +8% above national |
| 30 | Richmond, VA | $49,010 | +7% above national |
| 31 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,830 | +7% above national |
| 32 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $48,340 | +6% above national |
| 33 | Syracuse, NY | $48,150 | +5% above national |
| 34 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $47,730 | +5% above national |
| 35 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,700 | +4% above national |
| 36 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $47,440 | +4% above national |
| 37 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $46,680 | +2% above national |
| 38 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,480 | +2% above national |
| 39 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $46,430 | +2% above national |
| 40 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $46,310 | +1% above national |
| 41 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $45,860 | same as national |
| 42 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $45,690 | same as national |
| 43 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,540 | same as national |
| 44 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $45,460 | same as national |
| 45 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $45,310 | 1% below national |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $45,220 | 1% below national |
| 47 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $45,120 | 1% below national |
| 48 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,030 | 1% below national |
| 49 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $44,760 | 2% below national |
| 50 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $44,310 | 3% below national |
| 51 | Jacksonville, FL | $43,620 | 4% below national |
| 52 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $43,470 | 5% below national |
| 53 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $43,460 | 5% below national |
| 54 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,250 | 5% below national |
| 55 | Wichita, KS | $43,190 | 5% below national |
| 56 | Oklahoma City, OK | $43,080 | 6% below national |
| 57 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $42,840 | 6% below national |
| 58 | Columbia, SC | $41,740 | 9% below national |
| 59 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $41,050 | 10% below national |
| 60 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $40,940 | 10% below national |
| 61 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $40,930 | 10% below national |
| 62 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,950 | 13% below national |
| 63 | Knoxville, TN | $39,720 | 13% below national |
| 64 | Tulsa, OK | $39,330 | 14% below national |
| 65 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $39,020 | 15% below national |
| 66 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,800 | 15% below national |
| 67 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $38,580 | 16% below national |
| 68 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $38,560 | 16% below national |
| 69 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $38,410 | 16% below national |
| 70 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $38,160 | 16% below national |
| 71 | Lake Charles, LA | $38,020 | 17% below national |
| 72 | Birmingham, AL | $37,740 | 17% below national |
| 73 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,690 | 17% below national |
| 74 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $37,680 | 17% below national |
| 75 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $37,680 | 17% below national |
| 76 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,600 | 18% below national |
| 77 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | 18% below national |
| 78 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,340 | 18% below national |
| 79 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,180 | 19% below national |
| 80 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,740 | 20% below national |
| 81 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,290 | 21% below national |
| 82 | El Paso, TX | $36,140 | 21% below national |
| 83 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $35,980 | 21% below national |
| 84 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $35,910 | 21% below national |
| 85 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $35,840 | 22% below national |
| 86 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | 23% below national |
| 87 | Corpus Christi, TX | $35,240 | 23% below national |
| 88 | Tucson, AZ | $35,200 | 23% below national |
| 89 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,190 | 23% below national |
| 90 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $34,750 | 24% below national |
| 91 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,430 | 25% below national |
| 92 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $34,270 | 25% below national |
| 93 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $33,600 | 26% below national |
| 94 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $33,290 | 27% below national |
| 95 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $33,290 | 27% below national |
| 96 | Jackson, MS | $32,830 | 28% below national |
| 97 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $32,760 | 28% below national |
| 98 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $30,810 | 33% below national |
| 99 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $30,590 | 33% below national |
| 100 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $30,340 | 34% below national |
| 101 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,290 | 40% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Animal Control Workers make? ▼
What state pays Animal Control Workers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Animal Control Workers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Animal Control Workers? ▼
Is Animal Control Workers a good career? ▼
How does Animal Control Workers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Animal Control Workers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Animal Control Workers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $57,060/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $66,440/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.