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Animal Behavior Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Animal Care Technician

Seattle, WA · On-site

$27.24 - $42/hr

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is seeking dynamic and experienced Animal Care ... We are actively seeking employees whose behavior is in alignment with our division's core values of;

Animal Care Technician

Seattle, WA · On-site

$27.24 - $34.53/hr

Regional Animal Services King County - 21615 64th Ave S, Kent, WA Job Type: Career Service (Exec) ... We are actively seeking employees whose behavior is in alignment with our division's core values of;

Animal Pathways Coordinator

Kent, WA · On-site

$22 - $29.75/hr

Educate the public on animal behavior, care, training, laws and policies; assist potential pet owners in rehoming support for their animals. * Prepare and issue adoption, redemption and transfer ...

Recognize animal behavior, health status and report to appropriate channels. * Perform animal husbandry (cleaning, feeding, sanitation, enrichment, etc.) on a regular basis. * Operate, maintain, and ...

Educate the public on animal behavior, care, training, laws and policies; assist potential pet owners in rehoming support for their animals. Prepare and issue adoption, redemption and transfer ...

Animal Pathways Coordinator

Seattle, WA · On-site

$28.57 - $36.21/hr

Educate the public on animal behavior, care, training, laws and policies; assist potential pet owners in rehoming support for their animals. * Prepare and issue adoption, redemption and transfer ...

Animal Pathways Coordinator

Seattle, WA · On-site

$28.57 - $36.21/hr

Educate the public on animal behavior, care, training, laws and policies; assist potential pet owners in rehoming support for their animals. * Prepare and issue adoption, redemption and transfer ...

Assess animal health, behavior, welfare, and safety daily; report abnormal conditions or behavior patterns promptly to managers, curators, and veterinary staff. * Maintain accurate animal records and ...

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Showing results 1-20

Animal Behavior information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$20K

$50.6K

$79.5K

How much do animal behavior jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal behavior in Seattle, WA is $50,586.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $34,092.00 and $62,774.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal behaviorist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Behaviorist, you need a strong background in animal science, psychology, or biology, often supported by a relevant degree and specialized training. Familiarity with behavioral assessment tools, data analysis software, and sometimes certification from organizations like the Animal Behavior Society is typical. Excellent observation, problem-solving, and communication skills help professionals interact effectively with both animals and their owners. These qualifications are crucial for accurately diagnosing behavioral issues and implementing effective intervention strategies that improve animal welfare.

What jobs study animal behavior?

Jobs that study animal behavior include ethologists, wildlife biologists, zoologists, and animal behaviorists. These roles often require a background in biology or psychology, fieldwork experience, and sometimes advanced degrees such as a master's or Ph.D. in related fields. They work in research, conservation, zoos, or academic settings to observe, analyze, and interpret animal actions and interactions.

What is animal behavior?

Animal behavior refers to the actions and reactions of animals in response to external or internal stimuli. It encompasses everything animals do, including movement, communication, feeding, mating, and social interactions. Scientists study animal behavior to understand how animals adapt to their environment, interact with each other, and survive. This field can involve both observing animals in their natural habitats and conducting experiments in controlled settings.

What are some common challenges faced by animal behaviorists in their daily work?

Animal behaviorists often encounter challenges such as interpreting subtle behavioral cues, working with animals that may be stressed or fearful, and effectively communicating findings to pet owners or facility staff. They may also face unpredictable situations, especially when working with animals with a history of aggression or trauma. Building trust with both animals and humans, as well as adapting behavior modification plans to suit individual needs, are key aspects of the role that require patience and flexibility.

What are animal behavior jobs?

Animal behavior jobs focus on either domestic animals or wildlife behavior. If you work with domestic animals, you may have duties like training dogs or horses as companion animals or service animals. Your responsibilities can vary significantly, as running obedience classes is very different than training a seeing-eye dog. As an animal behaviorist, your duties and responsibilities are to study how animals behave in their natural habitat, observing how they eat, their hunting behavior, their mating patterns, and how they raise their offspring. In addition to your research, you may teach in a college or university or provide instruction to primary school students. Other animal behaviorist work in zoos or wildlife preserves.

What jobs can you do with animal behavior?

Animal behavior specialists work in fields such as wildlife conservation, zoo management, research, and animal training. They analyze animal actions to improve welfare, develop training programs, or contribute to scientific understanding. Relevant skills include observation, data collection, and often a background in biology or psychology.

What is the difference between Animal Behavior vs Animal Care Specialist?

AspectAnimal BehaviorAnimal Care Specialist
Required CredentialsDegree in animal science, psychology, or related field; certifications in animal behaviorHigh school diploma or equivalent; on-the-job training or certifications in animal care
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, animal behavior consulting firmsZoos, shelters, pet stores, veterinary clinics
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, academia, animal behavior consultingAnimal shelters, pet care facilities, zoos
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Animal Behavior specialists focus on studying, analyzing, and understanding animal actions, often working in research or consulting roles. Animal Care Specialists provide hands-on care, feeding, and maintaining animals in shelters, zoos, or clinics. While both roles involve working with animals, Animal Behavior emphasizes understanding behavior patterns, whereas Animal Care focuses on daily animal well-being and management.

How do I become an animal behaviorist?

To become an animal behaviorist, typically a bachelor's degree in biology, psychology, or a related field is required, followed by a master's or doctoral degree specializing in animal behavior or ethology. Gaining experience through internships, research, or working with animals is important, and certification from professional organizations can enhance credibility and job prospects.
What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Behavior jobs in Seattle, WA? The most popular types of Animal Behavior jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What job categories do people searching Animal Behavior jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Animal Behavior jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Animal Behavior jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Animal Behavior job openings:
Infographic showing various Animal Behavior job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $50,586 per year, or $24.3 per hour.

Animal Care Technician

King County

Seattle, WA • On-site

$27.24 - $42/hr

Other

Posted 17 days ago


King County (Washington) rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 38 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

196th of 842 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

Summary Are you someone who takes great interest in the health and wellbeing of animals and can also work considerately and effectively with their human owners. Are you interested in being a leader in service excellence, committed to building an enduring legacy of continuous improvement and employee engagement. Are you a team player.

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is seeking dynamic and experienced Animal Care Technician. RASKC provides animal services to 24 cities and unincorporated King County, this includes: rescuing stray, injured, neglected or abused pets; reuniting orphaned pets with families and/or helping them find forever homes through RASKC's pet adoption center in Kent; providing pet licensing services; a wide array of volunteering opportunities; and much more. King County is a national leader in improving animal outcomes as a municipal shelter, using data and model practices to maintain a high live release rate (above 90%).

Records and Licensing Services' guiding principles and core values govern our roles and responsibilities as employees. We are actively seeking employees whose behavior is in alignment with our division's core values of; Collaboration, Service Oriented, Results-Focused, Accountability, Innovation, Fair, Just, and Professional. ABOUT RECORDS & LICENSING SERVICES (RALS) The Records and Licensing Services Division (RALS) is a division of the Department of Executive Services.

RALS operates within a statutory framework that is prescribed by state law and county code. Many of the services administered by the division are mandated by state law, and are provided in King County on a regional basis across jurisdictional boundaries. RALS also provides certain local services to unincorporated King County and by contract with many local municipalities throughout King County.

In addition, RALS is responsible for providing internal services that are necessary for purposes of business efficiency and meeting various legal responsibilities. RALS is responsible for: Recording documents related to real property sales and other transactions and making them accessible for members of the public, businesses, and other government agencies Collecting and dispersing real estate excise tax payments on the conveyance of real property in King County Providing licensing and information services and promoting public safety by administering and enforcing vehicle and vessel licensing and taxi and transportation network company (TNC) regulations Providing internal mail services and physical and electronic records management services to all county agencies Providing animal care and control services for the protection of property, human health, and safety and promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare through education and licensing programs via public and private sector partnerships RALS is committed to service excellence and building an enduring legacy through continuous improvement. RALS uses Lean practices to improve our operations, programs, public and internal services, and employee safety.

We accomplish this through an equity lens, creating a learning environment, and employee engagement. To learn more about RALS, please visit our website at: kingcounty.gov/RALS Job Duties Scope of Job Duties: To be considered for this opportunity, you must at a minimum demonstrate skill and ability to: Clean, feed, water and monitor animals held at the Center; Prepare, clean and sanitize shelter to maintain a healthy and humane environment for animals, employees and visitors; Vaccinate, and scan for microchips, all dogs and cats on arrival to the Center; Medicate sick or injured animals as prescribed by a veterinarian, microchip animals available for adoption in the absence of veterinary staff; Plan, improve, and develop new methods for providing animal care and client communication including; communicating with various Animal Control sections, filing, data entry, and providing excellent customer service to all internal (staff, volunteers, foster parents) and external stakeholders (residents, general public) in person, over the phone or by e-mail while juggling multiple tasks on a daily basis; Educate the public on animal behavior, care, training, laws and policies; assist potential adopters in selecting animals; Prepare and issue adoption, redemption and transfer paperwork for the release of animals; Perform behavior assessments on shelter animals; Assist with the euthanasia of animals; Perform other duties as assigned. Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills We are looking for candidates who: Work directly with animals in an animal shelter, animal control, kennel, veterinary, or zoological stetting; Handle behavior assessment techniques, proper methods for the care and feeding of animals, cleaning of cages, kennels and treat animals as directed; Provide excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders, including responding to complaints and inquiries from the public in a calm, professional and courteous communication style; Prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment; Comfortable and proficient in using Office Productivity tools in your daily work (King County uses Microsoft Office intensively) and experience with Chameleon (or a similar data management product such as a veterinary practice management software); Work with kennel cleaning materials (i.e., bleach, Rescue, and other chemicals as needed)

Supplemental Information Selected candidate will need to pass a pre-employment physical (must be able to lift 40 lbs.) Work Location: Regional Animal Services of King County - 21615 64th Ave S. Kent WA, 98032 Work schedule: The animal shelter operates 7 days a week and the schedule for this position will be based on seniority. This position will be on a 4/10 schedule between the hours of 7:30am-6:30pm

Exact days of the week will be determined prior to first day. This position is covered by the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible and at times may be mandatory. Union Representation: This position is represented by ACOG - Animal Control - Department of Executive Services (Records and Licensing Services).

Are you ready to APPLY. The recruitment for this position is open to all qualified candidates. A completed King County Application is required.

We highly recommend that you also provide a resume and cover letter. This recruitment is an effort to fill our immediate vacancies as well as create a hire list that will be used for any positions that become vacant within the next 6 months, including additional Term Limited Temporary (TLT), Short-Term Temporary (STT) and Career Service (CS) positions. Are you ready to make a difference.

Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. Application Process If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Karina Cordova at kcordova@kingcounty.gov. King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us. King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability

We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.

Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.


What King County (Washington) employees say

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About King County

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US

Year founded

1852

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