Animal Control Worker salary in the U.S.
Animal Control Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $45,660 a year ($21.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,070 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $48,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for animal control workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| 25th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Median | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| 75th percentile | $57,060 | $27.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,070 | $32.72 |
| Average (mean) | $48,440 | $23.29 |
Half of animal control workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,805 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,902.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,756.15 |
| Weekly | $878.08 |
| Hourly | $21.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Animal Control Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $66,440 | 180 |
| Oregon | $66,130 | 40 |
| Alaska | $63,340 | 30 |
| California | $62,630 | 1,210 |
| Massachusetts | $60,930 | 280 |
| Nevada | $58,810 | 100 |
| Colorado | $58,470 | 170 |
| Connecticut | $57,130 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $55,060 | 70 |
| Iowa | $54,190 | 80 |
| Wyoming | $53,870 | 40 |
| Maryland | $53,330 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $52,050 | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,000 | n/a |
| Montana | $50,530 | 50 |
| Maine | $49,660 | 90 |
| Virginia | $49,010 | 430 |
| New Hampshire | $48,840 | 60 |
| New York | $48,420 | 870 |
| Michigan | $48,340 | 260 |
| Arizona | $47,650 | 210 |
| Utah | $47,210 | 200 |
| Florida | $45,860 | 640 |
| South Dakota | $45,530 | 50 |
| Ohio | $45,220 | 290 |
| North Carolina | $43,940 | 460 |
| Idaho | $43,930 | 50 |
| Texas | $43,250 | 1,300 |
| Indiana | $43,000 | 340 |
| Tennessee | $42,970 | 280 |
| Illinois | $42,480 | 410 |
| Missouri | $41,760 | 440 |
| Kansas | $39,520 | 190 |
| Georgia | $39,500 | 430 |
| South Carolina | $38,790 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $38,020 | 120 |
| New Mexico | $37,800 | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $37,450 | 380 |
| Wisconsin | $37,380 | 120 |
| Alabama | $37,340 | 290 |
| Kentucky | $35,360 | 190 |
| West Virginia | $35,120 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $34,890 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $34,410 | 180 |
Best-paying metro areas for animal control workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,750 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $77,540 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,260 | 30 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $70,410 | 40 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $67,860 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,050 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,140 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,810 | 430 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,950 | 70 |
| New Haven, CT | $61,860 | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $60,560 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,870 | 160 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $58,430 | 90 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $57,510 | 160 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $56,640 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most animal control workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 430 | $62,810 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 400 | $55,790 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 350 | $45,690 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 210 | $49,370 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 200 | $42,840 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 180 | $45,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 170 | $63,140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 160 | $59,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 160 | $57,510 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 140 | $44,760 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 130 | $48,340 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 130 | $44,310 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 120 | $43,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 120 | $77,540 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 100 | $54,770 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,220 | $24.62 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal control worker make in the U.S.?
The median salary for animal control workers in the U.S. is $45,660 a year, or $21.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid animal control workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of animal control workers in the U.S. earn at least $68,070 a year. The top 25% earn $57,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for animal control workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,090 a year, and a quarter of animal control workers earn $37,750 or less.
How many animal control workers work in the U.S.?
About 12,070 animal control workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.