Animal Control Workers Salary
Protective Service Occupations · 12K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$45,660
Median hourly
$22
Average annual
$48,440
Typical range
$33,090–$68,070
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Animal Control Workers is $45,660 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $22 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals..
Most earn between $33,090 and $68,070 a year. There are roughly 12K people employed as animal control workers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Animal Control Workers.
- Hourly
- $21.95
- Daily
- $176
- Weekly
- $878
- Bi-weekly
- $1,756
- Monthly
- $3,805
- Annual
- $45,660
$45,660 a year is around the 50th percentile for Animal Control Workerss. The median is $45,660.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$66,440
- 2Oregon$66,130
- 3Alaska$63,340
- 4California$62,630
- 5Massachusetts$60,930
- 6Nevada$58,810
- 7Colorado$58,470
- 8Connecticut$57,130
- 9Rhode Island$55,060
- 10Iowa$54,190
- 11Wyoming$53,870
- 12Maryland$53,330
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$78,750
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$77,540
- 3San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$74,260
- 4Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$70,410
- 5Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$67,860
- 6Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$64,050
- 7Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$63,140
- 8Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$62,810
- 9Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$61,950
- 10New Haven, CT$61,860
- 11Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$60,560
- 12Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$59,870
Related job titles
Employers advertise Animal Control Workers roles under these titles.
- Animal Attendant
- Animal Control Officer
- Animal Control Specialist
- Animal Cruelty Investigator
- Animal Enforcement Officer
- Animal Officer
- Animal Ordinance Enforcement Officer
- Animal Park Code Enforcement Officer
- Animal Rescuer
- Animal Safety Officer
- Animal Services Officer
- Animal Treatment Investigator
- Code Enforcement Inspector
- Code Enforcement Specialist
- Community Safety Officer
- Control Officer
Related occupations
What a Animal Control Workers does
- Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
- Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
- Supply animals with food, water, and personal care.
- Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
- Prepare for prosecutions related to animal treatment, and give evidence in court.
- Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
- Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
- Clean facilities and equipment such as dog pens and animal control trucks.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Animal Control Workers make?
- The median annual wage for Animal Control Workers is $45,660 ($22 per hour). Pay ranges from about $33,090 at the 10th percentile to $68,070 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Animal Control Workers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $48,440, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Animal Control Workerss the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $66,440.
- Is Animal Control Workers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 12K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Animal Control Workers do?
- Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.; Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.; Supply animals with food, water, and personal care..