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Job outlook for wild animal caretakers in the United States
Wild animal caretaker job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected wild animal caretaker job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 101,200 new jobs for wild animal caretakers are projected over the next decade.
Wild animal caretaker salaries have increased 19% for wild animal caretakers in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,136 wild animal caretakers currently employed in the United States.
There are 11,735 active wild animal caretaker job openings in the US.
The average wild animal caretaker salary is $27,846.
Are wild animal caretaker jobs in demand?
Wild animal caretaker job and salary trends over time
Wild animal caretaker jobs over time
Wild animal caretaker job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,136 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 7,840 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 8,600 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,090 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,712 | 0.00% |
Average wild animal caretaker salary over time
Wild animal caretaker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,846 | $13.39 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $26,458 | $12.72 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $25,369 | $12.20 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $24,504 | $11.78 | +4.4% |
| 2021 | $23,479 | $11.29 | +4.7% |
Wild animal caretaker jobs by state
Most common states for wild animal caretakers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 112 | 2% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 85 | 2% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 65 | 2% |
| 4 | California | 39,536,653 | 273 | 1% |
| 5 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 97 | 1% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 73 | 1% |
| 7 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 58 | 1% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 54 | 1% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 43 | 1% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 42 | 1% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 31 | 1% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 28 | 1% |
| 13 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 27 | 1% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 22 | 1% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 19 | 1% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 9 | 1% |
| 17 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 8 | 1% |
| 18 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 6 | 1% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 4 | 1% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 3 | 1% |
Most common cities for wild animal caretakers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Lansing | 1 | 2% | $27,581 |
| 2 | Frederick | 1 | 1% | $28,413 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City | 1 | 1% | $28,774 |
| 4 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $28,648 |
| 5 | Richmond | 1 | 0% | $23,955 |
Wild Animal Caretaker job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of wild animal caretaker experts
Angelo State University
International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association
Dr. Chase Runyan
Associate Professor, Department Chair, Director of MIR/Research ScientistAngelo State University
Department of Agriculture
What's a day at work look like for a Wild Animal Caretaker?
Dr. Chase Runyan: Because agriculture industries are so diverse in their nature, it is nearly impossible to gauge what a work day might look like.
What experience really stands out on Wild Animal Caretaker resumes?
Michael Hunt: When looking for a paid position as a zoological professional, it is advantageous for an applicant to include relevant animal handling experience on their resume. Depending on the individual candidate's background, this might include previously-held volunteer positions and internships, or other experience that showcases hands-on animal husbandry skills. Successful candidates are often members of professional organizations like the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA), and include that information as part of their application.