Animal Caretaker
Paige Atagi
Daily Activities
Animal caretakers give care to animals at shelters, zoos, kennels, pet shops, stables, aquariums, and research labs.
Working Conditions
- Have a medium to high level of social interaction with owners and other workers.
- Sometimes work outdoors when exercising, training, or showing animals. Animal groomers may work outside to wash animals.
- Must be exact and accurate with animal diets, controlled temperatures and humidity, and other features of animal care. Errors can be harmful.
- May work full time or part time.
Yearly Wages
Earn $18,870 per year
Preparation
Complete short-term, on-the-job training
5 important skills/ abilities
- Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
- Listen to others and ask questions.
- Understand spoken information.
- Read and understand work-related materials.
- Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Recommended core classes and electives
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Animal Science
- Computer Fundamentals
- Food and Nutrition
So you want to be a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker