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The differences between wild animal caretakers and bathers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a wild animal caretaker and a bather. Additionally, a bather has an average salary of $31,051, which is higher than the $27,846 average annual salary of a wild animal caretaker.
The top three skills for a wild animal caretaker include animal handling, facility laundry and general care. The most important skills for a bather are PET, check-in, and customer satisfaction.
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Bather | |
| Yearly salary | $27,846 | $31,051 |
| Hourly rate | $13.39 | $14.93 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 11,735 | 56,255 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 3 | 3 |
A wild animal caretaker is responsible for administering care to animals at pet shops, kennels, aquariums, zoos, and research labs. They are tasked with grooming, feeding, giving water to, and exercising animals. They monitor animals, record their health conditions, and report any problems. They must have excellent communication, interpersonal, and time-management skills to excel in this role.
A 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. They may also cut toenails, comb and brush coat, and administer particular products when necessary. Moreover, as a bather, it is essential to be proactive in dealing with issues and temperamental pets.
Wild animal caretakers and bathers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Bather | |
| Average salary | $27,846 | $31,051 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $37,000 | Between $22,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a wild animal caretaker and a bather in terms of educational background:
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Bather | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | New York University | Vermont Technical College |
Here are the differences between wild animal caretakers' and bathers' demographics:
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Bather | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.2% Female, 73.8% | Male, 14.2% Female, 85.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |