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Animal Helper Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Seaboard Corporation

Animal Caretaker

Leon, IA

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard Foods

Animal Caretaker

Leon, IA

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard

Animal Caretaker

Leon, IA

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard

Animal Caretaker

Bloomfield, IA

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard Foods

Animal Caretaker

Carroll, IA

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard Foods

Animal Caretaker

Bloomfield, IA · On-site

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard Foods

Animal Caretaker

Iowa Falls, IA · On-site

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard

Animal Caretaker - Westfield, IA

Hawarden, IA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard Foods

Animal Caretaker - Westfield, IA

Hawarden, IA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required * Must be able to work in farm ...

Seaboard Foods

Animal Caretaker - Westfield, IA

Hawarden, IA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine ... Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required  * Must be able to work in farm ...

Animal Rescue League Of Iowa

Ranch Hand

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$14.75 - $19.75/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Second Chance Ranch Assistant Care with purpose and help ranch animals move toward their next chapter. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a dependable and compassionate Second Chance Ranch ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsAnimal Helper JobsAnimal Helper Jobs in Iowa

Animal Helper information

See Iowa salary details

$10

$16

$22

How much do animal helper jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal helper in Iowa is $16.85, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.47 and $18.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Animal Helper vs Animal Care Assistant?

AspectAnimal HelperAnimal Care Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma, on-the-job trainingHigh school diploma, certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, rescue centers, pet storesVeterinary clinics, animal shelters, pet care facilities
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in shelters and rescue organizationsWidely used in veterinary clinics and animal care facilities
Search & Comparison IntentPeople looking for entry-level animal support rolesIndividuals seeking more specialized animal care positions

Animal Helper roles typically involve assisting with basic animal care tasks in shelters or rescue centers, often requiring minimal formal certification. Animal Care Assistants usually work in veterinary clinics or more structured environments, often with certifications or training. Both roles support animal well-being but differ in work setting and responsibilities.

What is an animal helper?

Animal helpers are individuals who assist with the care, handling, and well-being of animals in various settings, such as animal shelters, veterinary clinics, zoos, or wildlife rehabilitation centers. Their duties often include feeding animals, cleaning enclosures, monitoring animal health, and helping with enrichment activities. Animal helpers play a crucial role in ensuring animals are comfortable, safe, and healthy, and may also assist with adoptions or educational outreach. This job requires compassion, patience, and a genuine love for animals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal helper?

To thrive as an Animal Helper, you need a basic understanding of animal care, behavior, and handling, often supplemented by a high school diploma or relevant coursework. Familiarity with animal restraint tools, feeding systems, and record-keeping software is typically required. Patience, compassion, and strong communication skills are crucial for effectively working with both animals and people. These skills ensure the safety, well-being, and proper care of animals while supporting smooth collaboration with colleagues and pet owners.

What are common challenges faced by animal helpers when working in shelters or rescue organizations?

Animal Helpers in shelters or rescue organizations often encounter challenges such as managing the emotional stress of caring for abused or neglected animals, handling a high volume of animals with varying needs, and ensuring proper sanitation and safety. Additionally, they may need to coordinate with veterinarians, trainers, and volunteers, which requires strong communication and teamwork skills. Adaptability and compassion are essential for balancing animal welfare with organizational protocols and resource limitations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal jobs in Iowa?

The most popular types of Animal jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Animal Helper jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Animal Helper job openings:

Animal Helper jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Helper job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,055 per year, or $16.9 per hour.

Animal Caretaker

Seaboard Corporation

Leon, IA

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

JOB PURPOSE Animal caretakers are responsible for attending to and caring for pigs in our swine production facilities. On-the-job training is provided; related experience is not necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES & TASKS

  • Monitoring feed quality and water supply
  • Monitoring barn environment and ventilation systems
  • Treating and vaccinating sick animals as necessary
  • Breeding sows (if placed on sow farm)
  • Processing piglets (if placed on sow farm)
  • Loading and unloading pigs as scheduled
  • Maintaining farm cleanliness

CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS IN ALL ROLES: instills trust, communicates effectively, action oriented, accepts accountability, and drives results.

REQUIREMENTS

  • No education or experience required.
  • Basic math skills
  • Flexible and able to work on assigned weekends (Saturday/Sunday)
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required
  • Must be able to work in farm environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, occasionally lift up to 100 pounds and sometimes push/and or move up to 300 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is commonly exposed to airborne particles and gases at low concentrations. The employee is frequently exposed to waste material, feed and hog dust.

NORMAL WORK SCHEDULE: The hours and days of work are established by departmental needs and at the discretion of management. After-hours, weekends and overnight travel as requested.

ABOUT SEABOARD FOODS

At Seaboard Foods, we create the most sought-after pork. A top U.S. pork producer/processor and leading exporter to 30+ countries, we are committed to bringing excellence to the table, seeking a better way to produce wholesome pork and connect every step between our farms and family tables. Together, more than 5,000 employees in five states work in our farms, feed mills, and processing plant, to produce Prairie Freshpork, ensuring the well-being of our animals, the environment, our employees and the communities we call home.

Seaboard Foods is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by law.

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