Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Animal control officer salary
Average animal control officer salary
$39,903
Understanding Animal Control Officer Salaries
Animal Control Officers play a vital role in community safety and animal welfare. As of October 2025, the average salary for these professionals is $39,903 annually, or about $19 per hour. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, experience, and specific duties assigned. States such as California and Texas typically offer higher wages due to demand and cost of living.
Salary estimates vary widely, reflecting differences in local regulations and funding for animal control agencies. For instance, in urban areas, Animal Control Officers may earn more due to higher living costs and increased call volumes. Furthermore, with experience, salaries can increase significantly, making this a viable long-term career option.
Job Opportunities and Career Growth
As communities prioritize animal welfare, demand for qualified Animal Control Officers continues to rise. Entry-level positions often lead to opportunities for advancement into supervisory roles or specialized fields such as wildlife control. Additionally, candidates with a background in veterinary sciences or law enforcement may find enhanced career prospects.
Explore job listings in your area or consider further education to increase your earning potential and job opportunities in this fulfilling career.
Let Zippia find your next animal control officer job
Let Zippia find your next animal control officer job
Where can an Animal Control Officer earn more?
Animal control officer salary estimates from across the web
Average animal control officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for animal control officers are Alaska, Maine, and Connecticut. The lowest average animal control officer salary states are New Mexico, Iowa, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for animal control officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $50,507 | $24.28 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $50,175 | $24.12 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $49,105 | $23.61 |
| 4 | Maine | $51,936 | $24.97 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $50,943 | $24.49 |
| 7 | Maryland | $48,238 | $23.19 |
| 8 | Indiana | $48,566 | $23.35 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $45,136 | $21.70 |
| 10 | Nevada | $44,166 | $21.23 |
| 11 | Alaska | $55,376 | $26.62 |
| 12 | Vermont | $45,193 | $21.73 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $46,077 | $22.15 |
| 14 | Idaho | $42,549 | $20.46 |
| 15 | Delaware | $49,739 | $23.91 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $43,892 | $21.10 |
| 17 | Ohio | $44,007 | $21.16 |
| 18 | Washington | $44,641 | $21.46 |
| 19 | California | $48,663 | $23.40 |
| 20 | Arizona | $38,844 | $18.68 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $37,953 | $18.25 |
| 22 | Virginia | $39,450 | $18.97 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $39,450 | $18.97 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $39,667 | $19.07 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $40,321 | $19.39 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $47,964 | $23.06 |
| 27 | Michigan | $38,638 | $18.58 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $40,077 | $19.27 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $39,601 | $19.04 |
| 30 | New York | $40,071 | $19.26 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| 32 | Missouri | $38,749 | $18.63 |
| 33 | Colorado | $35,589 | $17.11 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 35 | Alabama | $33,629 | $16.17 |
| 36 | Montana | $38,728 | $18.62 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $40,905 | $19.67 |
| 38 | Texas | $35,092 | $16.87 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| 40 | Utah | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| 41 | Iowa | $31,517 | $15.15 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $31,701 | $15.24 |
| 43 | Georgia | $30,307 | $14.57 |
| 44 | Oregon | $34,844 | $16.75 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $32,113 | $15.44 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $33,553 | $16.13 |
| 47 | Illinois | $32,678 | $15.71 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $30,546 | $14.69 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $28,515 | $13.71 |
| 50 | Florida | $32,410 | $15.58 |
| 51 | Kansas | $28,879 | $13.88 |
Highest paying cities for animal control officers
The highest-paying cities for animal control officers are San Mateo, CA, Cambridge, MA, and New Albany, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo, CA | $49,341 | $23.72 |
| 2 | Cambridge, MA | $48,908 | $23.51 |
| 3 | New Albany, IN | $46,819 | $22.51 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $44,757 | $21.52 |
| 5 | Georgetown, KY | $40,251 | $19.35 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $40,165 | $19.31 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $40,138 | $19.30 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $39,274 | $18.88 |
| 9 | Billings, MT | $38,916 | $18.71 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| 11 | West Valley City, UT | $36,551 | $17.57 |
| 12 | Georgetown, TX | $36,046 | $17.33 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $35,353 | $17.00 |
| 14 | Las Cruces, NM | $33,993 | $16.34 |
| 15 | Woodstock, IL | $32,956 | $15.84 |
| 16 | Fort Myers, FL | $32,704 | $15.72 |
| 17 | Waterloo, IA | $32,041 | $15.40 |
| 18 | Lawrenceville, GA | $30,565 | $14.69 |
| 19 | Enid, OK | $30,377 | $14.60 |
| 20 | Little Rock, AR | $28,504 | $13.70 |
Animal control officer salary details
An animal control officer's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an animal control officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $39,903 | $3,325 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Top companies hiring animal control officers now:
Which companies pay animal control officers the most?
Animal control officer salaries at Citi and Oppenheimer & Co are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average animal control officer salary at companies like Wells Fargo and Polk County Sheriff's Office are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citi | $115,692 | $55.62 |
| 2 | Oppenheimer & Co | $74,921 | $36.02 |
| 3 | Wells Fargo | $71,084 | $34.17 |
| 4 | Polk County Sheriff's Office | $61,406 | $29.52 |
| 5 | Credit Suisse | $59,630 | $28.67 |
| 6 | Santa Clara University | $59,297 | $28.51 |
| 7 | Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept | $57,126 | $27.46 |
| 8 | Hays Companies | $53,002 | $25.48 |
| 9 | Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh | $51,555 | $24.79 |
| 10 | Arkansas Department of Health | $50,778 | $24.41 |
| 11 | King County | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| 12 | Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County | $48,378 | $23.26 |
| 13 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| 14 | York County | $45,625 | $21.94 |
| 15 | Greater Birmingham Humane Society | $45,286 | $21.77 |
| 16 | City of Los Angeles | $44,776 | $21.53 |
| 17 | Citizens Alliance | $44,624 | $21.45 |
| 18 | City of Detroit | $44,361 | $21.33 |
| 19 | City of Corinth | $44,330 | $21.31 |
| 20 | Oakland County, Michigan Government | $42,984 | $20.67 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Animal control officer salary trends
The average animal control officer salary has risen by $6,198 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average animal control officer earned $33,705 annually, but today, they earn $39,903 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for animal control officers over the last decade.
Compare animal control officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average animal control officer salary over time
Compare animal control officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Animal control officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,900 | $19.18 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $39,000 | $18.77 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $37,700 | $18.14 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $36,900 | $17.73 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $35,900 | $17.25 | +3.2% |
Recently added animal control officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County of Hawaii (Hi | Animal Control and Protection Officer II-SR | Kailua, HI | 06/30/2025 | $54,984 |
| City of Kenai, Ak | Chief Animal Control Officer | Kenai, AK | 06/28/2025 | $67,514 |
| Gwinnett County | Animal Control Officer | Lawrenceville, GA | 06/28/2025 | $32,870 |
| City of Portland, Me | Parking Control Officer | Portland, ME | 06/28/2025 | $46,018 |
| St. Louis County | Animal Care and Control Officer Lead | Saint Louis, MO | 06/27/2025 | $37,712 |
| City of Lufkin | Animal Services-Animal Control Officer | Lufkin, TX | 06/26/2025 | $36,356 |
| Mohave County, Az | Animal Control Officer | Kingman, AZ | 06/26/2025 | $34,382 |
| North Attleborough Public Schools | Animal Control Officer--Internal | North Attleborough, MA | 06/26/2025 | $72,317 |
| York County, Sc | Animal Control Officer I | York, SC | 06/21/2025 | $40,550 |
| County of Oconee | Animal Control Officer | Seneca, SC | 06/20/2025 | $36,117 |
Animal control officer salary FAQs
Search for animal control officer jobs