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How to hire a pet care specialist

Pet care specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring pet care specialists in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a pet care specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per pet care specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 22,682 pet care specialists in the US and 117,277 job openings.
  • Cave Creek, AZ, has the highest demand for pet care specialists, with 5 job openings.
  • Houston, TX has the highest concentration of pet care specialists.

How to hire a pet care specialist, step by step

To hire a pet care specialist, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a pet care specialist, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step pet care specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a pet care specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pet care specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the pet care specialist you need to hire. Certain pet care specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A pet care specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, pet care specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of pet care specialist salaries for various roles:

    Type of Pet Care SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Pet Care SpecialistAnimal care and service workers provide care for animals. They feed, groom, bathe, and exercise pets and other nonfarm animals... Show more$9-23
    Animation InternshipIn an animation internship, an intern's duties primarily depend on the supervising staff or manager's directives. In general, an intern is responsible for gaining practical experience and industry insights by performing tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, preparing materials and equipment, organizing files, producing drafts, and running errands as needed... Show more$10-21
    BatherA bather typically works at veterinary clinics and pet grooming establishments where they are primarily in charge of bathing animals, particularly cats and dogs. They are responsible for ensuring that the animals are comfortable with the water temperature, using particular soap and shampoo, drying fur, and adhering to the pet owner's other requests... Show more$10-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • PET
    • Health Issues
    • Customer Service
    • Work Ethic
    • CPR
    • Walkers
    • Administer Medications
    • Fresh Water
    • Front Desk
    • Sales Floor
    • Pet Food
    • Clean Water
    • Clean Environment
    • Customer Care
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Achieve detailed grooming including skin, ear, nail care, coat clips and dental care.
    • Interact on a professional level with other pet food company representatives and honor their interaction with customers.
    • Handle cash and perform all transactions at customer checkout -inform customers on exceptional pet care while offering excellent customer service
    • Perform euthanasia once lab exercises are complete.
    • Complete and certify to administer euthanasia.
    • Assist in answering customer questions regarding grooming, scheduling grooming appointments and maintaining salon cleanliness and safety.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your pet care specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A pet care specialist can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, pet care specialists' average salary in georgia is 44% less than in oregon.
    • Seniority. Entry-level pet care specialists 58% less than senior-level pet care specialists.
    • Certifications. A pet care specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a pet care specialist's salary.

    Average pet care specialist salary

    $14.98hourly

    $31,162 yearly

    Entry-level pet care specialist salary
    $20,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026
  4. Writing a pet care specialist job description

    A good pet care specialist job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a pet care specialist job description:

    Pet care specialist job description example

    Founded in 1987, AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the nation. Our mission is to provide cutting edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay. Through our healthcare centers, pharmacies, health plan, research and other activities, AHF provides access to the latest HIV treatments for all who need them.

    AHF’s core values are:

    • Patient-Centered
    • Value Employees
    • Respect for Diversity
    • Nimble
    • Fight for What’s Right

    Benefits at AHF

    AHF offers comprehensive benefits to help our employees do and be their very best! These benefits are intended to enhance employee physical, financial, spiritual and professional health.

    A Linkage to Care Specialist acts as a friendly, helpful resource to clients and community partners. For clients who are newly diagnosed with HIV and/or are not currently in care, Linkage can answer any questions regarding living with HIV and disclosure of status, facilitate entrance into medical care, accompany clients to their first few appointments, make referrals to complementary services, and offer HIV testing to partners and friends among other things. As a part of their work with community organizations, Linkage builds and fosters relationships with agencies that offer support services, as well as those groups whose clients would benefit from AHF services.

    A Linkage to Care Specialist plays an important role in the continuum of HIV care by bridging testing with medical care and other services. Working closely with testing programs, Linkage is available immediately after a reactive result to guide the client through next steps. In concert with healthcare centers, Linkage helps clients prepare for, and get oriented to their engagement in care, regardless of insurance status.


    By linking individuals to care and providing compassionate and non-judgmental customer service, Linkage to Care Specialists enable AHF to be of service to the community by providing support to individuals at a critical and potentially overwhelming moment. The ultimate goal of AHF’s Linkage to Care Program is to assist clients through their HIV diagnosis and empower them to be proactive in taking care of themselves and protecting others.

    We at AIDS Healthcare Foundation believe that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status or disability. The right of equal employment opportunity extends to recruiting, hiring selection, transfer, promotion, training and all other conditions of employment.

    Company DescriptionLooking for a career and work environment where you can cultivate a genuine impact? AIDS Healthcare Foundation may be just for you. Committed to “people before profit,” our organization provides access to affordable healthcare for our local communities, and globally.

    AIDS Healthcare Foundation affords opportunities for individuals to pursue various career interests within their field of choice. As an employee, while setting goals for growth and success, your efforts will contribute not only to the largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the world, but also directly impacting the lives of millions.

    At AHF, our staff is valued highly and acknowledged as one of our most important resources. Being reputable for offering challenging work, fair compensation, respect, and excellent benefits, AHF’s work atmosphere is one which is both stimulating and engaging.
  5. Post your job

    To find pet care specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any pet care specialists they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level pet care specialists with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your pet care specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit pet care specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit pet care specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pet care specialist

    Once you've found the pet care specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new pet care specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a pet care specialist?

There are different types of costs for hiring pet care specialists. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new pet care specialist employee.

The median annual salary for pet care specialists is $31,162 in the US. However, the cost of pet care specialist hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a pet care specialist for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $9 and $23 an hour.

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