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The differences between dog sitters and animal caregivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a dog sitter and an animal caregiver. Additionally, an animal caregiver has an average salary of $27,665, which is higher than the $25,532 average annual salary of a dog sitter.
The top three skills for a dog sitter include PET, customer service and dog care. The most important skills for an animal caregiver are pigs, PET, and animal handling.
| Dog Sitter | Animal Caregiver | |
| Yearly salary | $25,532 | $27,665 |
| Hourly rate | $12.28 | $13.30 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 67,682 | 57,251 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 3 | 3 |
A dog sitter is primarily responsible for taking care of dogs while their owners are away. Their tasks include feeding dogs, taking them to walks or daycares, bathing or cleaning their ears, and providing owners with regular updates. Most dog sitters typically meet with clients beforehand to learn about the dogs and their needs, as some of them may require medicine or particular care. Should there be any problems, a dog sitter must report to the owners right away.
An animal caretaker is primarily in charge of the welfare and safety of animals in a particular area. They may work at veterinary shops and clinics, private institutions, kennels, animal shelters, and even zoos. Although their responsibilities vary on the animals and their place of employment, it typically includes feeding, bathing, grooming, exercising, and petting. There are also instances where they must clean and sanitize cages, prepare meals, administer vitamins and medication, and monitor their behavior.
Dog sitters and animal caregivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dog Sitter | Animal Caregiver | |
| Average salary | $25,532 | $27,665 |
| Salary range | Between $10,000 And $64,000 | Between $20,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Warwick, RI | - |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | - |
| Best paying company | CARE | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a dog sitter and an animal caregiver in terms of educational background:
| Dog Sitter | Animal Caregiver | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University - Commerce | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between dog sitters' and animal caregivers' demographics:
| Dog Sitter | Animal Caregiver | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.0% Female, 78.0% | Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |