Animal Control Workers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for animal control workers in the U.S. is $45,660 ($21.95 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $45,660
- Mean annual wage
- $48,440
- Median hourly wage
- $21.95
- Employment
- 12,070
12,070 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| 25th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Median (50th) | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| 75th percentile | $57,060 | $27.44 |
| 90th percentile | $68,070 | $32.72 |
Highest-paying states for animal control workers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $66,440 | 180 |
| Oregon | $66,130 | 40 |
| Alaska | $63,340 | 30 |
| California | $62,630 | 1,210 |
| Massachusetts | $60,930 | 280 |
| Nevada | $58,810 | 100 |
| Colorado | $58,470 | 170 |
| Connecticut | $57,130 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $55,060 | 70 |
| Iowa | $54,190 | 80 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $34,410 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $34,890 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $35,120 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $35,360 median annual wage
- Alabama: $37,340 median annual wage
About this occupation
Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
Typical tasks
- Clean facilities and equipment such as dog pens and animal control trucks.
- Euthanize rabid, unclaimed, or severely injured animals.
- 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.
- Organize the adoption of unclaimed animals.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 3.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 21.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 30.9% |
| Associate's degree | 17.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 22.7% |
| Master's degree | 3.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.