Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Food service, cleaning, and personal care / 39-2021.00

Animal Caretakers

Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.

US jobs
266,910
Median wage
$35,360 a year
Job family
Food service, cleaning, and personal care

Can agents do the work of animal caretakers?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Food service, cleaning, and personal care: Not yet (first measured in the last 12 months)

Direct benchmarks exist, but agents complete less than 20% of their tasks.

Evidence: BEHAVIOR Challenge 2025, 12.4% of tasks fully completed (Full task success rate).

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 27%Care for plants or animalsNot measured
  • 10%Maintain facilities or equipmentNot measured
  • 8%Administer basic health care or medical treatmentsNot measured
  • 7%Monitor health conditions of humans or animalsNot measured
  • 7%Respond to customer problems or inquiriesNot measured
  • 6%Prepare foods or beveragesNot measured
  • 6%Prepare health or medical documentsNot measured
  • 5%Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areasNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in food service, cleaning, and personal care, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
  • Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
  • Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
  • Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
  • Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
  • Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
  • Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
  • Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
  • Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
  • Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.
  • Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
  • Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals.
Other job titles for this occupation (80)

Animal Care Giver (ACG) · Aquarist · Dog Bather · Dog Groomer · Groomer · Kennel Attendant · Kennel Technician (Kennel Tech) · Pet Groomer · Pet Stylist · Zookeeper · Animal Care Attendant · Animal Care Service Worker · Animal Care Specialist · Animal Care Taker · Animal Care Technician · Animal Caregiver · Animal Caretaker · Animal Daycare Provider · Animal Feeder · Animal Groomer · Animal Handler · Animal Health Technician · Animal Keeper · Animal Nursery Worker · Animal Rehabilitator · Animal Shelter Worker · Animal Sitter · Aquarium Tank Attendant · Aviculturist · Bather · Bird Raiser · Bird Tender · Canary Raiser · Care Assistant · Care Taker · Caretaker · Cat Bather · Cat Groomer · Cat Sitter · Dog Barber · Dog Beautician · Dog Boarder · Dog Daycare Attendant · Dog Hair Clipper · Dog Pound Attendant · Dog Raiser · Dog Sitter · Dog Walker · Farrier · Horseshoer · Hot Walker · Keeper · Kennel Aide · Kennel Assistant · Kennel Helper · Kennel Keeper · Kennel Operator · Kennel Worker · Mice Raiser · Monkey Keeper · Parakeet Raiser · Pet Care Associate · Pet Care Specialist · Pet Care Worker · Pet Caretaker · Pet Feeder · Pet Sitter · Pet Specialist · Pony Rider · Pound Attendant · Pound Keeper · Poundmaster · Reptile Keeper · Ringman · Stock Feeder · Walker · Wild Animal Caretaker · Wildlife Rehabilitator · Zoo Caretaker · Zoo Keeper