Animal Control Worker salary in Virginia
Animal Control Workers in Virginia earn a median of $49,010 a year ($23.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,340 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $45,660. Virginia ranks 17th of 44 states for animal control workers pay. There are 0.10 animal control workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for animal control workers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| 25th percentile | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| Median | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| 75th percentile | $56,090 | $26.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,340 | $29.01 |
| Average (mean) | $49,570 | $23.83 |
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 | $4,084.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,042.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,885 |
| Weekly | $942.50 |
| Hourly | $23.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Animal Control Worker salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $57,510 | 160 |
| Richmond, VA | $49,010 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,030 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for animal control workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $66,440 |
| Oregon | $66,130 |
| Alaska | $63,340 |
| California | $62,630 |
| Massachusetts | $60,930 |
| Nevada | $58,810 |
| Colorado | $58,470 |
| Connecticut | $57,130 |
| Rhode Island | $55,060 |
| Iowa | $54,190 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $43,640 | $20.98 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| School Bus Monitor | $36,510 | $17.56 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $41,980 | $20.19 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,870 | $31.67 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,140 | $24.11 |
| Firefighter | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $97,780 | $47.01 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $112,760 | $54.21 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for animal control workers in Virginia is $49,010 a year, or $23.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid animal control workers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of animal control workers in Virginia earn at least $60,340 a year. The top 25% earn $56,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for animal control workers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,010 a year, and a quarter of animal control workers earn $43,300 or less.
How many animal control workers work in Virginia?
About 430 animal control workers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.