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The differences between wild animal caretakers and pet groomers 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 pet groomer. Additionally, a pet groomer has an average salary of $32,139, 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 pet groomer are PET, dryers, and pet care.
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Pet Groomer | |
| Yearly salary | $27,846 | $32,139 |
| Hourly rate | $13.39 | $15.45 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 11,735 | 63,641 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| 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 pet groomer typically works with pets and other animals in pet grooming boutiques and pet stores. As a pet groomer, you will perform a few tasks that may include cleaning and taking care of pets such as dogs, maintaining the cleanliness of the work area for the next client, and working with the cash registers. In addition, you will groom dogs and cats using different tools and techniques, ensuring that pets stay safe and are well taken care of.
Wild animal caretakers and pet groomers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Pet Groomer | |
| Average salary | $27,846 | $32,139 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $37,000 | Between $21,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a wild animal caretaker and a pet groomer in terms of educational background:
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Pet Groomer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
Here are the differences between wild animal caretakers' and pet groomers' demographics:
| Wild Animal Caretaker | Pet Groomer | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.2% Female, 73.8% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| 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, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 2.6% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |