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Job outlook for pet care associates in the United States
Pet care associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected pet care associate job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 101,200 new jobs for pet care associates are projected over the next decade.
Pet care associate salaries have increased 19% for pet care associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 22,682 pet care associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 84,256 active pet care associate job openings in the US.
The average pet care associate salary is $35,635.
Are pet care associate jobs in demand?
Yes, pet care associate jobs are in demand. Pet care associate demand is projected to grow 28% from 2018 to 2028.
Pet care associate job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of pet care associate jobs and the average pet care associate salary over time.
Pet care associate jobs over time
Pet care associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,682 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 19,464 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 21,353 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 20,086 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 19,149 | 0.01% |
Average pet care associate salary over time
Pet care associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,635 | $17.13 | +5.2% |
| 2025 | $33,859 | $16.28 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $32,465 | $15.61 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $31,358 | $15.08 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $30,046 | $14.45 | +4.7% |
Pet care associate jobs by state
The map below shows you the number of pet care associate job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where pet care associates earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average salary: Job openings:
Most common states for pet care associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 220 | 21% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 273 | 20% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 189 | 20% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 161 | 19% |
| 5 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,083 | 18% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 578 | 18% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 137 | 18% |
| 8 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 127 | 18% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 113 | 18% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 967 | 17% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 225 | 17% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,001 | 16% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,600 | 16% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 904 | 16% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 90 | 16% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,523 | 15% |
| 17 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,280 | 15% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,076 | 15% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 607 | 15% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 157 | 15% |
Most common cities for pet care associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valrico | 1 | 3% | $28,255 |
| 2 | Peoria | 1 | 1% | $36,845 |