What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Animal Caretakers in the U.S. earn more than $35,360 a year — the middle 80% land between $27,250 and $50,060. About 266,910 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Animal Caretakers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$35,360typical pay / year
266,910people in this work
$50,060+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Care4
Feed and water animals
+Feed and water the research colony room B at 0800 and 1600 with the whisker-safe diet, record intake for cage…
Feed and water animals
+Feed and water the research colony room B at 0800 and 1600 with the whisker-safe diet, record intake for cage rows 1–12 on the feeding log, replace any depleted bottles, and report animals refusing food to the study coordinator, Maria, by noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Clean animal areas and enclosures
+Deep-clean Suite C after morning rounds: remove soiled bedding, disinfect surfaces with the approved…
Clean animal areas and enclosures
+Deep-clean Suite C after morning rounds: remove soiled bedding, disinfect surfaces with the approved disinfectant for 10 minutes contact time, mop and rinse, change enrichment items, and note any repairs or persistent odors for facilities.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Socialize and groom animals
+Socialize the juvenile cohort in playroom two for 30 minutes: follow the handling plan, brush and check coat…
Socialize and groom animals
+Socialize the juvenile cohort in playroom two for 30 minutes: follow the handling plan, brush and check coat for parasites, provide enrichment puzzles, record each animal’s response and any stress signs, and escalate if a handler becomes overwhelmed.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software 123Petjob descriptionsO*NET
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Perform animal husbandry duties (feeding, watering, medicating, vaccinating)
+Complete the weekday husbandry run for the juvenile rodent colony: prepare measured feed and water stations,…
Perform animal husbandry duties (feeding, watering, medicating, vaccinating)
+Complete the weekday husbandry run for the juvenile rodent colony: prepare measured feed and water stations, administer the cage-specific vitamin injection per nurse Lin’s note, log lot numbers and times, and mark any animals needing veterinary follow-up.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Move1
Assist with animal transportation
+Plan and run the transfer of three adult rhesus macaques to the satellite housing on Thursday morning:…
Assist with animal transportation
+Plan and run the transfer of three adult rhesus macaques to the satellite housing on Thursday morning: confirm secure transport crates, final health checks from Dr. Morales, sedation protocol on file, two trained handlers assigned, and vehicle route cleared with security before departure.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Analysing1
Educate visitors about animals
+Lead the noon visitor talk at the facility viewing gallery: introduce the capuchin enrichment program,…
Educate visitors about animals
+Lead the noon visitor talk at the facility viewing gallery: introduce the capuchin enrichment program, explain our welfare protocols and feeding schedule, highlight one recent study outcome, and instruct visitors on the viewing rules and handwashing station before they leave.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft OutlookESCOjob descriptions
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The daily work17
Answer questions
+Answer the two lab technician emails about the juvenile meerkat group: confirm feeding schedule, note any…
Answer questions
+Answer the two lab technician emails about the juvenile meerkat group: confirm feeding schedule, note any health concerns, attach yesterday’s weight log, and request a transport slot for Monday morning with Dr. Alvarez—reply by end of day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Monitor animal health and behavior
+Walk the morning rounds of the primate and rodent wings, record each animal’s temperature, appetite and…
Monitor animal health and behavior
+Walk the morning rounds of the primate and rodent wings, record each animal’s temperature, appetite and activity in the care log, flag any out-of-range readings and note who I spoke with before shift end at 15:00.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Handle animals with care and safety protocols
+Prepare for the moving crate transfer at 10:30 by briefing the transport lead, donning required PPE, carry…
Handle animals with care and safety protocols
+Prepare for the moving crate transfer at 10:30 by briefing the transport lead, donning required PPE, carry the juvenile macaque using the two-person safe lift, and log the handlers and checklist completion after the move.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Medicate animals as directed
+Administer prescribed medication to the green tree frogs at 09:00 per the treatment sheet, confirm dosages…
Medicate animals as directed
+Administer prescribed medication to the green tree frogs at 09:00 per the treatment sheet, confirm dosages with the vet, document time, dose and route in the medication record, and alert the vet to any refusal.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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Clean the exhibits
+Deep-clean the aviary after the 11:00 feeding: remove old substrate, disinfect per protocol, replace…
Clean the exhibits
+Deep-clean the aviary after the 11:00 feeding: remove old substrate, disinfect per protocol, replace enrichment items, inspect for hazards, and sign the sanitation log before leaving at 13:00.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptions
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Report possible health problems
+If an animal shows abnormal signs, photograph visible symptoms, write a concise incident note with time,…
Report possible health problems
+If an animal shows abnormal signs, photograph visible symptoms, write a concise incident note with time, animal ID and observed behavior, email the vet and supervisor immediately and attach the incident note and photos.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCOjob descriptions
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Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
+Stand at the education desk from 13:00–15:00, answer visitor questions about the otters’ feeding schedules,…
Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
+Stand at the education desk from 13:00–15:00, answer visitor questions about the otters’ feeding schedules, breeding history and enrichment, hand out the facility fact sheet, and note any common questions for the outreach coordinator.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointO*NET
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Clean and disinfect surgical equipment.
+Remove used surgical instruments to the decon area, inspect and sort by type, run the validated cleaning…
Clean and disinfect surgical equipment.
+Remove used surgical instruments to the decon area, inspect and sort by type, run the validated cleaning cycle, document lot numbers and operator initials, then transfer sterilised sets to storage with today's date and discard single-use items per protocol.
The tools that do the workO*NET
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Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
+Post clear photos and short bios of each stray to the facility's adoption listings, screen inquiries for…
Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
+Post clear photos and short bios of each stray to the facility's adoption listings, screen inquiries for suitable homes, arrange meet-and-greets with staff present, run vet and home-check references, and prepare adoption paperwork for approved applicants.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.
+Check the animal quarters' control panel, set temperature to the species-specific target and humidity to the…
Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.
+Check the animal quarters' control panel, set temperature to the species-specific target and humidity to the nursery standard, log the change with time and your initials, and monitor hourly for four hours to confirm stability.
The tools that do the workO*NET
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Sell pet food and supplies.
+Ring up the customer at the supply counter, confirm dietary needs for the animal, select appropriate food and…
Sell pet food and supplies.
+Ring up the customer at the supply counter, confirm dietary needs for the animal, select appropriate food and any supplements, record the sale, restock low inventory items, and give feeding and storage advice before they leave.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software 123PetO*NET
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Assess animal temperament
+Assess the temperament of the lab colony of juvenile capuchins today by performing five-minute handling and…
Assess animal temperament
+Assess the temperament of the lab colony of juvenile capuchins today by performing five-minute handling and isolation observations per animal, record flight, aggression and curiosity scores, note any food-motivation changes, flag two highest-risk individuals for follow-up.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Administer medications and treatments
+Administer scheduled medications and topical treatments to the rat cohort this morning, verify dosages…
Administer medications and treatments
+Administer scheduled medications and topical treatments to the rat cohort this morning, verify dosages against each animal's chart, log time, dose and route, observe for adverse reactions for thirty minutes, and notify the veterinary tech if anything unexpected occurs.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Maintain farm records and documentation
+Update the farm records for feed, breeding and morbidity for last week: reconcile feed use against inventory,…
Maintain farm records and documentation
+Update the farm records for feed, breeding and morbidity for last week: reconcile feed use against inventory, enter health events and juvenile weights, attach supporting veterinary notes, then produce a one-page weekly summary for the facility manager.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Coordinate with personnel and regulatory agencies
+Coordinate with the institutional animal care office and the USDA inspector about the upcoming audit: send…
Coordinate with personnel and regulatory agencies
+Coordinate with the institutional animal care office and the USDA inspector about the upcoming audit: send the incident log, current enrichment schedule and staffing roster, propose Tuesday at 10am for the walkthrough, and request any additional documents they expect to review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Develop and adhere to operational budgets
+Build this quarter's operational budget for the small-animal unit including feed, bedding, veterinary…
Develop and adhere to operational budgets
+Build this quarter's operational budget for the small-animal unit including feed, bedding, veterinary services and transport costs, compare against last quarter, highlight any line items up by more than 10 percent, and prepare a two-slide justification for next week's leadership review.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft PowerPointjob descriptions
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Conduct guided tours
+Run the one-hour guided tour for the visiting undergraduate group on Friday at 2pm: cover safety rules,…
Conduct guided tours
+Run the one-hour guided tour for the visiting undergraduate group on Friday at 2pm: cover safety rules, nutrition and enrichment practices, stop at the juvenile housing for a supervised viewing, collect signed waivers, and email the attendee list and feedback form afterward.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Says who?
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The logs, files & records this job keeps
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Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses