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The differences between pet care associates and dog walkers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a pet care associate and a dog walker. Additionally, a pet care associate has an average salary of $35,635, which is higher than the $30,893 average annual salary of a dog walker.
The top three skills for a pet care associate include PET, customer service and sales floor. The most important skills for a dog walker are PET, walkers, and clients homes.
| Pet Care Associate | Dog Walker | |
| Yearly salary | $35,635 | $30,893 |
| Hourly rate | $17.13 | $14.85 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 84,256 | 5,474 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 3 | 3 |
Pet care associates, though holding a small position, will find its scope much larger than one would initially expect. This position requires an individual with gentleness, patience, confidence, carefulness, diligence, and a hard-working attitude. Paying out at around $33K per year, those who choose this career will be required to help customers with questions and issues related to small mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds.
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.
Pet care associates and dog walkers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pet Care Associate | Dog Walker | |
| Average salary | $35,635 | $30,893 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $48,000 | Between $21,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Purr'n Pooch | CARE |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Professional |
There are a few differences between a pet care associate and a dog walker in terms of educational background:
| Pet Care Associate | Dog Walker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
Here are the differences between pet care associates' and dog walkers' demographics:
| Pet Care Associate | Dog Walker | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.8% Female, 75.2% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 2.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |