Animal Caretakers job outlookprojected pay in 10 years $49,900 · outlook score 65/100 · BLS employment projections
United StatesConfidence ★★★★★
Median annual pay
$35,360
25th–75th pct. $29,820–$40,050
Top pay (est.)
$65,100
Top 10% $50,060
Pay in 5 years
$42,000est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$49,900est.
$42,900–$57,900
Outlook score
65/100
★★★☆☆ Good
AI replacement risk
27%
Low
Job growth (10 yr)
+12.1%
63K openings / yr
Projected pay for Animal Caretakers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $35,360 → in 3 years $39,200 → in 5 years $42,000 → in 10 years $49,900 (10-year range $42,900–$57,900). The model assumes pay growth of +3.5% per year.
$35,360
Now 2026
$39,200
In 3 yrs 2029
$36,200–$42,700
$42,000
In 5 yrs 2031
$37,800–$46,800
$49,900
In 10 yrs 2036
$42,900–$57,900
What drives the annual growth rate
Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand +0.4%AI impact +0.17%Total +3.5% / yr
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Animal Caretakers
65/100
★★★☆☆
Good · ranked #134 of all U.S. occupations
Pay level
3 pts
AI resistance
73 pts
Entry barrier
17 pts
Annual openings
95 pts
Projected growth
95 pts
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Labor demand for Animal Caretakers
Employment
267K
BLS OEWS
Projected employment
409K
2025–35
Projected change
+12.1%
ranked #40 for growth
Annual openings
63K
growth + replacement needs
Demand score
Very high
93/100
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
in a related occupation
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.