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Animal Control Officer Trainee Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Maricopa County, AZ

Adoption Specialist

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$20.25 - $32.50/hr

Job Type Unclassified Department Animal Care and Control About the Position Are you passionate ... Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn firsthand about proper care ...

Maricopa

Adoption Specialist

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$20.25 - $26.38/hr

Job Type Unclassified Department Animal Care and Control About the Position Are you passionate ... Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn firsthand about proper care ...

Yavapai College

Safety Officer

Prescott, AZ

$16/hr

... people; animal and human body fluids; hazards of emergency driving; hazards associated with traffic control and working in and near traffic; working in and near natural and man-made disasters ...

Yavapai College

Safety Officer

Prescott, AZ · On-site

$16/hr

... animal and human body fluids; hazards of emergency driving; hazards associated with traffic control and working in and near traffic; working in and near natural and man-made disasters; exposure to ...

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All JobsAnimal Control Officer JobsAnimal Control Officer Trainee JobsAnimal Control Officer Trainee Jobs in Arizona

Animal Control Officer Trainee information

See Arizona salary details

$26.6K

$44.6K

$65.7K

How much do animal control officer trainee jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal control officer trainee in Arizona is $44,650.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35,900.00 and $50,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal control officer trainee?

Animal Control Officer Trainees are entry-level professionals who learn how to enforce animal-related laws and regulations, respond to animal emergencies, and educate the public about responsible pet ownership. They work under the supervision of experienced officers to gain hands-on experience with animal handling, investigation, and safety procedures. Their training prepares them for a full Animal Control Officer role, where they will protect both the community and animals from harm or neglect.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be an animal control officer trainee?

To thrive as an Animal Control Officer Trainee, you need a basic understanding of animal behavior, safety procedures, and usually a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with animal restraint tools, incident reporting systems, and sometimes completion of relevant training or certification programs is beneficial. Strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills help in interacting with the public and handling stressful situations. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring public safety, humane animal treatment, and effective enforcement of animal regulations.

What are common challenges faced by animal control officer trainees during training?

Animal Control Officer Trainees often encounter challenges such as becoming comfortable handling a wide variety of animals, some of which may be aggressive or frightened. Trainees must quickly learn local animal control laws, safe capture techniques, and proper use of equipment. Additionally, adapting to emotionally charged situations, like dealing with distressed pet owners or cases of animal cruelty, can be demanding. However, trainees are typically supported by experienced officers and receive on-the-job training to help them build confidence and competence in the field.

What is the difference between Animal Control Officer Trainee vs Animal Control Officer?

AspectAnimal Control Officer TraineeAnimal Control Officer
Required CertificationsBasic animal handling and safety training, sometimes state-specific certificationsSame as trainee, plus experience and additional certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentSupervised, training-focused, fieldwork with animals and public interactionsIndependent fieldwork, enforcement, and animal rescue activities
Employer & Industry UsageEntry-level position in animal control departments, shelters, or municipal agenciesFull-time role with more responsibilities, often after completing trainee period

Animal Control Officer Trainee is an entry-level position designed to provide training and experience, while Animal Control Officer is a fully qualified role with greater responsibilities. Trainees typically work under supervision, gaining skills needed for the officer position. Both roles are essential in animal control services, with the trainee position serving as a stepping stone to becoming an officer.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Control Officer jobs in Arizona?

The most popular types of Animal Control Officer jobs in Arizona are:

What cities in Arizona are hiring for Animal Control Officer Trainee jobs?

Cities in Arizona with the most Animal Control Officer Trainee job openings:

Animal Control Officer Trainee jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Control Officer Trainee job openings in Arizona as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,650 per year, or $21.5 per hour.

Adoption Specialist

Maricopa County, AZ

Phoenix, AZ • On-site

$20.25 - $32.50/hr

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Posting Date
09/02/26
Application Deadline
09/05/26
Pay Range
Anticipated Hiring Range: $20.25 - $26.38 hourly
Full Pay Range: $20.25 - $32.50 hourly
Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.
Job Type
Unclassified
Department
Animal Care and Control
About the Position
Are you passionate about connecting adopters with pets and providing an excellent customer experience?
As an Adoption Specialist, you will play a critical role in matching animals with customers looking to adopt. You will conduct animal meet-and-greets and facilitate a conversational adoption approach through open dialogue. This position holds an essential role in promoting animals by ensuring animal bios and photos are updated regularly and advocating for animals with longer-term shelter stays by utilizing MCACC programs and processes. As one of our champions, you will take the lead in identifying customers' needs and guiding them through the entire adoption process. This position requires the employee to be in the office and or customer-facing for all hours worked.
What better way to contribute to our mission than to be on the front line, bringing together the people and pets of Maricopa County!
Don't miss out on this opportunity to support our shelter! Apply today!
About Us
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation's largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn firsthand about proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.
Proud to Offer
  • Work with a greater purpose
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Exceptional work-life balance
  • Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
  • Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
  • Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
  • Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
  • Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
  • Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
  • Want to learn more about the County's Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require
  • Two years of experience in a retail or similar customer service role
  • High school diploma or GED
  • A combination of post-secondary education and/or job-related experience may substitute for the minimum qualifications on a year-for-year basis

Other Requirements
  • Candidates must be flexible and able to work all shifts, including starting as early as 8 am and finishing as late as 9 pm, working weekends and holidays. Adoption Specialists are assigned on any shift, with any combination of days off, determined by the needs of the Department.

We Also Value
  • Animal adoption experience in an Animal Care and Control type environment
  • Experience with processing financial transactions
  • Bilingual skills in English/Spanish

Job Contributions
  • Conduct animal adoption meet and greets and review information and adoption materials with potential adopters
  • Greet and assist customers at the adoption counter, effectively address inquiries, and provide accurate information, all while maintaining a professional and helpful demeanor
  • Perform accurate data entry, including adoption processing, fee collection, entering animal, person, and medical information, and creating and updating animal bios and photos
  • Maintain a kennel floor presence and actively engage with the general public and the animals to facilitate matchmaking
  • Demonstrate excellent verbal and written skills, including clear and effective communication with others (staff, public, volunteers) that is professional, respectful, and positive
  • Ensure adoption areas are clean and tidy throughout the day by mopping floors, wiping surfaces in the meet-and-greet and lobby areas, and maintaining kennel signage/cards and play yards
  • Conduct additional animal handling as needed, including restraint, walking, playgroups, and other duties
  • Maintain and update adoption packet information and supplies to ensure new adopters have all the appropriate documentation and resources needed for their new pet
  • Run reports and perform related duties. Provide support with kennel cleaning, animal evaluations, events, enrichment, and other duties as assigned

Working Conditions
  • Work is performed in a busy, often noisy, office setting within an animal shelter with close proximity to dogs and cats with unknown temperaments or behaviors
  • You will also spend an equivalent amount of time outdoors, with exposure to extreme temperatures, wetness, humidity, and respiratory hazards
  • In this role, you will be exposed to cleaning products used in animal shelters and the smells associated with animal housing
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk on all types of surfaces, some of which are slippery, uneven, or rough
  • Exerting 20-25 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly
  • Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software, and Hardware: MFD printer, Desktop computer, Chameleon software, Microsoft Office suite, Avaya phone system, POS system

Selection Procedure
  • Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications
  • Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile
  • Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact MHRFeedback@maricopa.gov to initiate the interactive process.
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