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The differences between dog walkers 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 walker and an animal caregiver. Additionally, a dog walker has an average salary of $30,893, which is higher than the $27,665 average annual salary of an animal caregiver.
The top three skills for a dog walker include PET, walkers and clients homes. The most important skills for an animal caregiver are pigs, PET, and animal handling.
| Dog Walker | Animal Caregiver | |
| Yearly salary | $30,893 | $27,665 |
| Hourly rate | $14.85 | $13.30 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 5,474 | 57,251 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 3 | 3 |
A dog walker provides dog walking services to pet owners at scheduled times, ensuring their safety. They first meet with pet owners to discuss their preferred schedule and use this opportunity to learn more about the dog and understand its needs. There are instances where a dog walker may walk multiple dogs, consider weather conditions, pick-up and dispose of waste properly, and feed dogs with water or food. Moreover, a dog walker regularly updates pet owners with the duration or location of walks, including the dog's behavior.
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 walkers and animal caregivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dog Walker | Animal Caregiver | |
| Average salary | $30,893 | $27,665 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $44,000 | Between $20,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | - |
| Best paying company | CARE | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a dog walker and an animal caregiver in terms of educational background:
| Dog Walker | Animal Caregiver | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Massachusetts Amherst | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between dog walkers' and animal caregivers' demographics:
| Dog Walker | Animal Caregiver | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% | Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.6% White, 67.7% 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% |