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Sitter vs pet sitter

The differences between sitters and pet sitters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a sitter has an average salary of $28,724, which is higher than the $25,823 average annual salary of a pet sitter.

The top three skills for a sitter include patients, kids and CPR. The most important skills for a pet sitter are PET, walkers, and clients homes.

Sitter vs pet sitter overview

SitterPet Sitter
Yearly salary$28,724$25,823
Hourly rate$13.81$12.41
Growth rate36%28%
Number of jobs85,15221,735
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4832
Years of experience-3

What does a sitter do?

A sitter is responsible for assisting medical needs under the supervision of an attending physician, registered nurses, and other health professionals. Sitters monitor the patients' daily activities and perform medical duties such as taking the patient's temperature, administering medications, monitoring food intake, helping with bathing needs, and responding to the patients' inquiries, concerns, and requests. They also keep track of medical charts to report the patients' health condition and progress to the senior staff.

What does a pet sitter do?

A pet sitter is responsible for taking care of household pets while their owners are away. Pet sitters perform services for pet maintenance, including taking them to the veterinarian, monitoring their food, walk them in the park, and administer medications, if any. They also reach out to the pet owners for possible updates and emergencies, taking their instructions immediately. Apart from being highly communicative and organizational, a pet sitter should have an interest and passion in taking care of pets to ensure high-quality services.

Sitter vs pet sitter salary

Sitters and pet sitters have different pay scales, as shown below.

SitterPet Sitter
Average salary$28,724$25,823
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $39,000Between $10,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityFair Lawn, NJNewport, RI
Highest paying stateMassachusettsRhode Island
Best paying companySouthcoast HealthCARE
Best paying industryNon ProfitsNon Profits

Differences between sitter and pet sitter education

There are a few differences between a sitter and a pet sitter in terms of educational background:

SitterPet Sitter
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common college-University of Massachusetts Amherst

Sitter vs pet sitter demographics

Here are the differences between sitters' and pet sitters' demographics:

SitterPet Sitter
Average age4832
Gender ratioMale, 13.9% Female, 86.1%Male, 19.7% Female, 80.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 17.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%11%

Differences between sitter and pet sitter duties and responsibilities

Sitter example responsibilities.

  • Run groceries or medical errands for patients.
  • Complete light housekeeping duties, such as dishes, folding laundry, buying groceries.
  • Help out with regular ADL's as well such as bathing, ambulating, eating, dressing, and exercise.
  • Assist with ADL's; bathing needs, food prep, exercise, drive and assist with appointments, light housekeeping
  • Provide colostomy care and administer medication for pain management in accordance with current physician recommendations.
  • Help nursing with flushing of catheters with certain residents.
  • Show more

Pet sitter example responsibilities.

  • Help managed the company and train new walkers
  • Cat and dog feeding, medicine, dog walking, cleanup; 5 animals : 3 cats , 2 dogs.
  • Provide constant supervision and companionship for elopement risk and suicide precaution patients.
  • Provide care for dogs, fish, cats, bunnies, birds, snakes, hamsters and most other household pets.
  • Execute cash register POS system.
  • Specialize in extra TLC for elderly pets.
  • Show more

Sitter vs pet sitter skills

Common sitter skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Kids, 20%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Patient Safety, 6%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • PET, 5%
Common pet sitter skills
  • PET, 90%
  • Walkers, 2%
  • Clients Homes, 2%
  • CPR, 1%
  • Topical Medications, 1%
  • Litter Boxes, 1%

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