# Animal Control Workers

> Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-control-workers
- SOC code: 33-9011.00
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $45,660 (10th percentile $33,090, 90th percentile $68,070)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.0%
- Openings a year: 1,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 82 |
| Investigative (I) | 43 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 27 |
| Enterprising (E) | 19 |
| Conventional (C) | 48 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 93/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 90/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 89/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 89/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 86/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 82/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 79/100)
- Processing Information (importance 79/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, Law and Government, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Education and Training, Biology, Communications and Media, Telecommunications, Transportation

## Also called

ACO (Animal Control Officer), Adoption Counselor, Animal Attendant, Animal Control Specialist, Animal Cop, Animal Cruelty Investigator, Animal Enforcement Officer, Animal Instructor Officer, Animal Officer, Animal Ordinance Enforcement Officer

## Related careers

- [Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-caretakers): $35,360 median pay
- [Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers): $38,150 median pay
- [Fish and Game Wardens](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fish-and-game-wardens): $74,060 median pay
- [Animal Trainers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-trainers): $39,990 median pay
- [Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/police-and-sheriffs-patrol-officers): $76,210 median pay
- [Veterinary Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians): $47,380 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.