Best states for an animal control officer

Q: What is the best state for animal control officers?

The best state to be an animal control officer is Wisconsin based on animal control officer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for animal control officers?

The highest paying state for animal control officers is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for animal control officers?

The worst state for animal control officers is Kansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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It seems like animal control officers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for animal control officers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that Wisconsin is the best state for animal control officers in America. The best city in America for animal control officers with the highest pay is San Mateo, CA.

In order to get you the best states for animal control officers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for animal control officers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Mateo, CA is the best city in the country for animal control officer jobs, where as Wisconsin is the best state in the country.

10 best states for animal control officers in 2025

1. Wisconsin
Total animal control officer jobs: 871
Average annual salary: $50,507
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Animal control officer jobs in Wisconsin
2. Rhode Island
Total animal control officer jobs: 184
Average annual salary: $50,175
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Animal control officer jobs in Rhode Island
3. Massachusetts
Total animal control officer jobs: 1,504
Average annual salary: $49,105
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
1.32
Animal control officer jobs in Massachusetts
4. Maine
Total animal control officer jobs: 176
Average annual salary: $51,936
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Animal control officer jobs in Maine
5. New Hampshire
Total animal control officer jobs: 277
Average annual salary: $47,510
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Animal control officer jobs in New Hampshire
6. Connecticut
Total animal control officer jobs: 470
Average annual salary: $50,943
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Animal control officer jobs in Connecticut
7. Maryland
Total animal control officer jobs: 1,016
Average annual salary: $48,238
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Animal control officer jobs in Maryland
8. Indiana
Total animal control officer jobs: 843
Average annual salary: $48,566
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Animal control officer jobs in Indiana
9. North Dakota
Total animal control officer jobs: 140
Average annual salary: $45,136
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Animal control officer jobs in North Dakota
10. Nevada
Total animal control officer jobs: 374
Average annual salary: $44,166
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
1.44
Animal control officer jobs in Nevada

Animal control officer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an animal control officer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an animal control officer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Wisconsin	$50,507	$33,000	5,795,483	871
2	Rhode Island	$50,175	$29,000	1,059,639	184
3	Massachusetts	$49,105	$29,000	6,859,819	1,504
4	Maine	$51,936	$34,000	1,335,907	176
5	New Hampshire	$47,510	$29,000	1,342,795	277
6	Connecticut	$50,943	$30,000	3,588,184	470
7	Maryland	$48,238	$28,000	6,052,177	1,016
8	Indiana	$48,566	$31,000	6,666,818	843
9	North Dakota	$45,136	$31,000	755,393	140
10	Nevada	$44,166	$25,000	2,998,039	374
11	Alaska	$55,376	$34,000	739,795	34
12	Vermont	$45,193	$29,000	623,657	113
13	Pennsylvania	$46,077	$27,000	12,805,537	1,551
14	Idaho	$42,549	$26,000	1,716,943	357
15	Delaware	$49,739	$29,000	961,939	59
16	West Virginia	$43,892	$27,000	1,815,857	187
17	Ohio	$44,007	$27,000	11,658,609	1,229
18	Washington	$44,641	$27,000	7,405,743	961
19	California	$48,663	$28,000	39,536,653	1,689
20	Arizona	$38,844	$23,000	7,016,270	1,002
21	Mississippi	$37,953	$24,000	2,984,100	350
22	Virginia	$39,450	$23,000	8,470,020	1,709
23	Nebraska	$39,450	$26,000	1,920,076	297
24	Minnesota	$39,667	$26,000	5,576,606	992
25	South Dakota	$40,321	$27,000	869,666	128
26	District of Columbia	$47,964	$28,000	693,972	62
27	Michigan	$38,638	$24,000	9,962,311	951
28	New Jersey	$40,077	$23,000	9,005,644	1,153
29	Kentucky	$39,601	$25,000	4,454,189	418
30	New York	$40,071	$23,000	19,849,399	1,801
31	South Carolina	$37,120	$24,000	5,024,369	628
32	Missouri	$38,749	$25,000	6,113,532	688
33	Colorado	$35,589	$23,000	5,607,154	994
34	Louisiana	$38,550	$24,000	4,684,333	368
35	Alabama	$33,629	$21,000	4,874,747	679
36	Montana	$38,728	$25,000	1,050,493	38
37	Hawaii	$40,905	$30,000	1,427,538	48
38	Texas	$35,092	$21,000	28,304,596	2,564
39	North Carolina	$34,490	$21,000	10,273,419	1,219
40	Utah	$36,830	$23,000	3,101,833	159
41	Iowa	$31,517	$20,000	3,145,711	551
42	New Mexico	$31,701	$19,000	2,088,070	266
43	Georgia	$30,307	$19,000	10,429,379	1,654
44	Oregon	$34,844	$20,000	4,142,776	494
45	Tennessee	$32,113	$20,000	6,715,984	721
46	Wyoming	$33,553	$21,000	579,315	32
47	Illinois	$32,678	$21,000	12,802,023	1,511
48	Oklahoma	$30,546	$19,000	3,930,864	393
49	Arkansas	$28,515	$18,000	3,004,279	371
50	Florida	$32,410	$21,000	20,984,400	827
51	Kansas	$28,879	$19,000	2,913,123	350

Highest paying states for animal control officers

Rank	State	Avg. Animal Control Officer Salary
1	Wisconsin	$50,507
2	Rhode Island	$50,175
3	Massachusetts	$49,105
4	Maine	$51,936
5	New Hampshire	$47,510
6	Connecticut	$50,943
7	Maryland	$48,238
8	Indiana	$48,566
9	North Dakota	$45,136
10	Nevada	$44,166
11	Alaska	$55,376
12	Vermont	$45,193
13	Pennsylvania	$46,077
14	Idaho	$42,549
15	Delaware	$49,739
16	West Virginia	$43,892
17	Ohio	$44,007
18	Washington	$44,641
19	California	$48,663
20	Arizona	$38,844
21	Mississippi	$37,953
22	Virginia	$39,450
23	Nebraska	$39,450
24	Minnesota	$39,667
25	South Dakota	$40,321
26	District of Columbia	$47,964
27	Michigan	$38,638
28	New Jersey	$40,077
29	Kentucky	$39,601
30	New York	$40,071
31	South Carolina	$37,120
32	Missouri	$38,749
33	Colorado	$35,589
34	Louisiana	$38,550
35	Alabama	$33,629
36	Montana	$38,728
37	Hawaii	$40,905
38	Texas	$35,092
39	North Carolina	$34,490
40	Utah	$36,830
41	Iowa	$31,517
42	New Mexico	$31,701
43	Georgia	$30,307
44	Oregon	$34,844
45	Tennessee	$32,113
46	Wyoming	$33,553
47	Illinois	$32,678
48	Oklahoma	$30,546
49	Arkansas	$28,515
50	Florida	$32,410
51	Kansas	$28,879

Animal control officer best states FAQs

What is the best state for animal control officers?

What is the highest paying state for animal control officers?

What is the worst state for animal control officers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common protective service questions.

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Best states for Animal Control Officers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total animal control officer jobs:	871
Average annual salary:	$50,507
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$33,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$76,000
Location Quotient:	1.27

Best states for an animal control officer

10 best states for animal control officers in 2025

1. Wisconsin

2. Rhode Island

3. Massachusetts

4. Maine

5. New Hampshire

6. Connecticut

7. Maryland

8. Indiana

9. North Dakota

10. Nevada