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Animal Cleaning Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

City of Ontario

Animal Caretaker

Ontario, CA

$45K - $60K/yr

Cleans and maintains assigned areas in a neat and organized manner by disinfecting kennels, cages ... Maintains animal inventory records and records of controlled substances by utilizing database ...

City of Ontario, CA

Animal Caretaker

Ontario, CA · On-site

$45K - $60K/yr

Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire Opening Date: 06/26/2026 Closing Date: Continuous FLSA ... Cleans and maintains assigned areas in a neat and organized manner by disinfecting kennels, cages ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Chino, CA

$15.50 - $20.25/hr

Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Let's Go! * Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals. * Ensure merchandise is stocked ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Riverside, CA · On-site

$16 - $20.75/hr

Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Let's Go! * Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals. * Ensure merchandise is stocked ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Chino, CA · On-site

$15.50 - $20.25/hr

Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Let's Go! * Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals. * Ensure merchandise is stocked ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Riverside, CA

$16 - $20.75/hr

Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Let's Go! * Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals. * Ensure merchandise is stocked ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Riverside, CA · On-site

$16 - $20.75/hr

Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Let's Go! * Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals. * Ensure merchandise is stocked ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Riverside, CA · On-site

$16 - $20.75/hr

Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Let's Go! * Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals. * Ensure merchandise is stocked ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Orange, CA · On-site

$16.25 - $21.25/hr

Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Let's Go! * Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals. * Ensure merchandise is stocked ...

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All JobsAnimal Cleaning JobsAnimal Cleaning Jobs in Riverside, CA

Animal Cleaning information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$9

$17

$28

How much do animal cleaning jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal cleaning in Riverside, CA is $17.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.56 and $19.57 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal cleaning job?

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 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 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.

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 popular job titles related to Animal Cleaning jobs in Riverside, CA?

For Animal Cleaning jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animal Cleaning jobs in Riverside, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Animal Cleaning jobs in Riverside, CA are:

Animal Cleaning jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Cleaning job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 45% Full Time, 45% Part Time, and 10% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $36,022 per year, or $17.3 per hour.

Animal Care Specialist

Animal Friends of the Valleys

Wildomar, CA

$17/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Who we are:
Animal Friends of the Valleys (AFV) is the leading animal shelter for the cities of Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Canyon Lake and Wildomar, and small parts of Riverside County. We provide top-quality animal welfare and animal control services for our client cities. If you are looking for a way to make a difference and not just a job, AFV is exactly what you’re looking for!
Who we’re looking for:
Animal Care Specialist
What you will be doing:
  • Lots of interaction with dogs, cats, some bunnies and the occasional exotic pet
  • Responsibility for ensuring that all our animal residents are well cared for, properly fed, have exercise time and are in a safe, clean environment
  • Training in proper cleaning and sanitation methods, and daily cleaning of kennels and facility areas to maintain safe, clean environments
  • Improve your customer service skills by answering client questions and assisting them as they seek to find the perfect pet to bring them to their forever home
What you’ll need:
  • Some animal handling and care experience preferred; particularly with dogs and cats.
  • Ability to clean, lift, bend, walk and handle animals, supplies and equipment
What can we offer you?
  • $17.00 per hour
  • Full-time.
  • Be part of an amazing team that loves and cares for the animals that need them.
  • Opportunities for additional training
  • Uniform Allowance (Scrubs)
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, insurance benefits available.
  • Colonial Insurance
  • 403B Retirement Savings (Think 401K for non-profits.)
  • Extensive Employee Discount Program to help you save money on a wide variety of products and services.
  • Employee Assistance Program to help you through life’s challenges, including counseling and coaching services; assistance with legal, financial and career questions; and so much more!

Apply