Animal handler vs animal shelter worker

The differences between animal handlers and animal shelter workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both an animal handler and an animal shelter worker. Additionally, an animal shelter worker has an average salary of $33,011, which is higher than the $27,820 average annual salary of an animal handler.

The top three skills for an animal handler include animal handling, goats and animal species. The most important skills for an animal shelter worker are crisis intervention, mental health, and direct care.

Animal handler vs animal shelter worker overview

	Animal Handler	Animal Shelter Worker
Yearly salary	$27,820	$33,011
Hourly rate	$13.38	$15.87
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	28,040	72,185
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	32	32
Years of experience	3	3

Animal handler vs animal shelter worker salary

Animal handlers and animal shelter workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Animal Handler	Animal Shelter Worker
Average salary	$27,820	$33,011
Salary range	Between $19,000 And $40,000	Between $22,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between animal handler and animal shelter worker education

There are a few differences between an animal handler and an animal shelter worker in terms of educational background:

	Animal Handler	Animal Shelter Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Biology	Psychology
Most common college	Northwestern University	Texas A&M University - Commerce

Animal handler vs animal shelter worker demographics

Here are the differences between animal handlers' and animal shelter workers' demographics:

	Animal Handler	Animal Shelter Worker
Average age	32	32
Gender ratio	Male, 38.8% Female, 61.2%	Male, 30.7% Female, 69.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between animal handler and animal shelter worker duties and responsibilities

Animal handler example responsibilities.

Handle, dogs pigs, donkey, and horses.
Assist veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants in providing the best care possible for patients.
Provide environmental enrichment for various mammal and raptor species.

Animal shelter worker example responsibilities.

Assist in managing shelter for animals and arranging for adoption or euthanasia of confiscate animals.
Maintain an aquatic system of zebrafish and rotifers.
Assist veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants in providing the best care possible for patients.
Milk animals such as cows and goats, by hand or using milking machines.

Animal handler vs animal shelter worker skills

Common animal handler skills

Animal Handling, 55%
Goats, 13%
Animal Species, 8%
Exotic Animals, 4%
Zoo Animals, 3%
Animal Welfare, 3%

Common animal shelter worker skills

Crisis Intervention, 15%
Mental Health, 14%
Direct Care, 11%
Emergency Shelter, 10%
Client Intake, 10%
Community Resources, 9%