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Animal Cleaning Jobs (NOW HIRING)

All4Paws Animal Rescue

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Animal Caretaker

Pawleys Island, SC · On-site

$12 - $13/hr

Clean and disinfect animal enclosures and feed bowls; maintain facility standards. * Observe animals for signs of illness or injury and reports findings to the appropriate medical staff, veterinarian ...

Alliance Animal Health

Animal Care Technician

Warsaw, IN · On-site

$13 - $14/hr

This job involves cleaning, laundry, bathing, feeding, walking dogs, and medicating patients. You ... Proper methods of animal restraint. * Ability to use cleaning materials and equipment with skill ...

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How much do animal cleaning jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal cleaning in the United States is $16.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.98 and $18.75 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Animal Cleaner, you need a basic understanding of animal care, sanitation procedures, and health and safety regulations, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with cleaning tools, disinfectants, personal protective equipment (PPE), and sometimes animal management software is generally required. Attention to detail, reliability, and compassion for animals are important soft skills that help maintain a safe and healthy environment. These abilities ensure the well-being of animals, prevent the spread of disease, and support efficient facility operations.

What is the difference between Animal Cleaning vs Animal Grooming?

AspectAnimal CleaningAnimal Grooming
CertificationsBasic animal care knowledge, possibly pet first aidGrooming certifications or courses often preferred
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, veterinary clinics, pet care facilitiesPet salons, grooming shops, veterinary clinics
Employer & Industry UsageAnimal shelters, pet care servicesPet grooming salons, veterinary practices

Animal Cleaning primarily involves cleaning and maintaining animals' hygiene, such as bathing and sanitation. Animal Grooming includes additional services like trimming, styling, and cosmetic care. While both roles focus on animal health and hygiene, grooming is more specialized and often requires specific certifications. Both jobs are essential in pet care industries and often overlap in work environments, but grooming emphasizes aesthetic and styling services.

What are animal cleaning jobs?

Animal cleaning jobs involve maintaining the hygiene and cleanliness of animals and their living environments. This can include tasks such as bathing, grooming, cleaning cages or enclosures, and ensuring animals have fresh bedding and water. These roles are commonly found in places like animal shelters, veterinary clinics, zoos, pet shops, and grooming salons. Workers in these positions play an essential part in promoting animal health, comfort, and overall wellbeing.

What are some common challenges faced in an animal cleaning role, and how can they be managed effectively?

Animal cleaning professionals often encounter challenges such as managing animal stress, handling unpredictable behavior, and maintaining strict hygiene standards. To manage these, it's important to approach animals calmly and patiently, use proper protective equipment, and follow established cleaning protocols. Regular communication with veterinarians or animal care staff can also help ensure safety and well-being for both the animals and the cleaning team. Developing good observational skills allows you to notice changes in animal behavior, which can prevent accidents and improve overall care.
More about Animal Cleaning jobs
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What states have the most Animal Cleaning jobs? States with the most job openings for Animal Cleaning jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animal Cleaning jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animal Cleaning jobs are:
Animal Cleaning jobs near you
Animal Care Associate I

Animal Care Associate I

Cleveland Animal Protective League

Cleveland, OH

$17.10/hr

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Animal Care Associate I
Department: Shelter
Classification: Full or Part time, hourly, non-exempt
Job Relationship: Reports to Animal Care Supervisor. Works closely with animal care lead and
volunteers.
Position Summary: Responsible for daily cleaning and sanitation of shelter facility, including animal
enclosures and public areas, and feeding, care, focused enrichment, behavior
assessment, vaccination, and transport of shelter animals.
Revised: August 2021
____________________________________________________________________________________
Essential Job Functions:
  • Provides optimal standard of care to all animals sheltered at the APL
  • Performs daily cleaning and sanitizing of kennels, cages, and public areas; follows cleaning and disease control protocols to ensure a safe, healthy environment
  • Feeds and provides daily enrichment to shelter animals
  • Does animal laundry and dishes throughout the day
  • Follows all safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment for staff and living environment for animals. Takes immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal, or the organization at risk
  • Stocks areas and spot-cleans kennels and public areas throughout the day
  • Promptly moves animals (adoption, isolation, quarantine, etc.) as instructed
  • Accurately updates animal records, including stage and location, in PetPoint
  • Keeps supervisor informed of animal behavior, health, or other concerns
  • Maintains cleaning equipment, tools and appliances
  • Conducts kennel inventory and ensures accuracy of animal locations
  • Informs supervisor of special needs cases for potential public relations or direct mail pieces
  • Completes revaccinations (FVRCP, DA2PP, Bordetella, etc.) of animals in a timely manner
  • Assists animal wellness and flow team with socialization and implementation of individual training plans for dogs, including overseeing and assisting with dog playgroups
  • Assists in transport of animals
  • Assists Behavior team with animal evaluations
  • Opens and closes the building as assigned
  • Performs other duties and special projects as assigned
  • Ensures animals are treated with a Fear Free approach in the shelter, at offsite events, and as they transition into their new homes
  • Keeps up to date on organizational communications by either attending All Staff Meetings or reading the News Hound.
Provides professional client, staff, and volunteer care
  • Represents the APL in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Provides quality service to customers, volunteers, and staff recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization
  • Promotes integration and utilization of volunteers
  • Actively promotes the APL programs and events to clients and volunteers
  • Refers clients to appropriate staff for service
  • Assists with accepting in-kind donations
  • Promotes communication and cooperation between APL departments.
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications
  • High school diploma or equivalent preferred
  • Able to read and understand instructions
  • Able to work with animals, disinfectants, and cleaning supplies
  • Able to perform physical work: scrubbing, mopping, bending, lifting, walking and standing for up to 10 hours a day, lifting up to 50 pounds with assistance
  • Must possess a valid Ohio Driver’s License and insurable driving record.

Knowledge and Skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a variety of people
  • Ability to work with a computer using Windows software
  • Knowledge of animal breeds, behavior, and handling
  • Knowledge of animal health, ability to identify illness preferred
  • Ability to safely handle animals, including those with health and behavioral challenges
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to follow instructions
  • Detail oriented and able to prioritize and perform duties efficiently and effectively
  • Committed to maintaining the Cleveland Animal Protective League’s high standard of animal care
  • and mission to foster compassion and end animal suffering.
  • Fear Free Certified or must become certified within six months of hire
  • Supports the APL’s desire to celebrate a diverse and inclusive culture that fuels the compassion
  • that connects us to one another.

Working Conditions
Work is performed constantly in an animal shelter that operates seven days per week with exposure to
animals, including some with questionable health and temperament concerns, high noise levels, zoonotic
diseases, and cleaning agents. The person in this position needs to constantly move about the shelter to
provide care to our shelter animals. Occasionally operates a computer and other office equipment (i.e.
calculator, copier, and printer). Constantly positions self to handle animals of all sizes in a variety of areas
and positions (low cages, high cages, on tables, on the floor, in vehicles, etc.). Constantly positions self to
perform shelter and animal cleaning functions. Constantly communicates with staff members and
volunteers who have inquiries about their job responsibilities and animal needs and must be able to
exchange accurate information in these situations. Must be able to detect and recognize animal behavior
that is potentially dangerous. Occasionally moves animals weighing up to 50 pounds (i.e. through the
shelter on leash or using other safe restraint and animal handling equipment, into and out of cages in the
shelter, into and out of shelter vehicles, onto and off of exam tables). Must be able to modify work
schedule to meet APL operational needs.
This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be
performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any
other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an
employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.
Our Core Values
Compassion – We are compassion in action. We believe every animal and person has value and worth
and should be treated with respect, empathy, and kindness to support the human-animal bond.

Advocacy - We are the voice for animals, dedicated to lifesaving solutions that advance their quality of life,
and promote their place in society.

Leadership – We act with integrity, creativity, duty to community, and have the courage to change. These
are driving forces that make us a leading animal welfare organization.

Innovation – We are devoted to pioneering new approaches to the evolving challenges animals face by
developing ethical, humane solutions and working in partnership with the public and animal welfare
community.

Community – We continually strive to be a diverse and inclusive team and believe we must all work
together to best fulfill our vision.

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