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Humane Society Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Dispatcher

San Diego, CA · On-site

$22 - $24.48/hr

San Diego Humane Society is hiring full-time Dispatchers for our San Diego Dispatch Team! How you'll impact our mission: At San Diego Humane Society, we're united by our mission to Inspire Compassion.

Veterinarian

San Diego, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

San Diego Humane Society is hiring a full-time Veterinarian for our Shelter Medicine team! How you'll impact our mission: San Diego Humane Society provides vital services to animals and people by ...

Vet Assistant

Escondido, CA · On-site

$20 - $22.25/hr

San Diego Humane Society is hiring Full-Time Veterinary Assistants for our Medical team! How you'll impact our mission: At San Diego Humane Society, we're united by our mission to Inspire Compassion

Veterinarian

San Diego, CA · On-site

$120 - $150/hr

Medical San Diego Humane Society is hiring a full-time Veterinarian for our Shelter Medicine team! How you'll impact our mission: San Diego Humane Society provides vital services to animals and ...

Veterinarian

San Diego, CA · On-site

$120 - $150/hr

San Diego Humane Society is hiring a full-time Veterinarian for our Shelter Medicine team!How you'll impact our mission:San Diego Humane Society provides vital services to animals and people by ...

Showing results 21-40

Humane Society information

See California salary details

$13

$19

$29

How much do humane society jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for humane society in California is $19.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $21.83 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the Humane Society?

The Humane Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting animal welfare and preventing cruelty to animals. It operates animal shelters, provides rescue and adoption services, advocates for stronger animal protection laws, and educates the public about responsible pet ownership. Humane Societies may also offer spay/neuter programs, veterinary care, and disaster response for animals in need. Their goal is to ensure the well-being and humane treatment of all animals.

What skills and qualifications are needed to work at the Humane Society?

To thrive as a Humane Society worker, you need a background in animal care, knowledge of animal welfare laws, and often a relevant degree or certification in veterinary technology, animal science, or a related field. Familiarity with shelter management software, basic medical equipment for animals, and animal handling tools is typically required. Compassion, strong communication, and problem-solving skills are vital for interacting with animals, colleagues, and the public. These abilities ensure the well-being of the animals, effective community outreach, and smooth shelter operations.

What challenges do Humane Society workers face and how can they manage them?

Employees at a Humane Society often encounter emotionally challenging situations, such as caring for neglected or abused animals and interacting with distressed pet owners. Managing compassion fatigue while maintaining a high standard of animal care can be demanding. Building strong teamwork, accessing support resources, and practicing self-care are essential strategies for coping with these challenges. Many organizations offer training and counseling to help staff develop resilience and maintain a positive work environment.

What is the difference between Humane Society vs Animal Shelter Worker?

AspectHumane SocietyAnimal Shelter Worker
CredentialsMay require animal care certifications, background checksHigh school diploma, on-the-job training
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organization, community outreach, administrative tasksAnimal care facilities, hands-on animal handling
Employer & IndustryNonprofits focused on animal welfareMunicipal or private shelters

Humane Society organizations often focus on broader animal welfare initiatives, advocacy, and community education, while Animal Shelter Workers primarily handle daily care and intake of animals in shelters. Both roles involve caring for animals, but the Humane Society may also engage in outreach and policy work, whereas Shelter Workers focus on direct animal care and shelter operations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Humane Society jobs in California?

The most popular types of Humane Society jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Humane Society jobs in California?

For Humane Society jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Humane Society jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Humane Society jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Humane Society jobs?

Cities in California with the most Humane Society job openings:

Infographic showing various Humane Society job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,447 per year, or $19.9 per hour.

$22 - $24.48/hr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


San Diego Humane Society rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

San Diego Humane Society is hiring full-time Dispatchers for our San Diego Dispatch Team!
How you'll impact our mission:
At San Diego Humane Society, we're united by our mission to Inspire Compassion. Dispatchers impact the lives of more than 40,000 animals each year by triaging emergency and non-emergency calls for animal welfare situations. The Dispatch team serves as a vital link for animals needing our help by dispatching Humane Officers when appropriate, and coordinating with local law enforcement and other emergency services.
This role delivers service at the gold standard level in alignment with the SDHS Way, to meet the needs of animals and the people who love them by leading with compassion, finding creative solutions, providing personalized care and building connections. If you're passionate about making an impact in the animal welfare movement, we'd love to talk to you.
What's in it for you?
At SDHS, we're proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and commit to being a place where every person - staff, volunteer, and guest - can feel a sense of belonging. We support and invest in employees through conscious delivery of benefits and a workplace environment based on our Core Values.
As an employee you'll enjoy:
  • Competitive pay and paid time-off (including your Birthday Day Off!)
  • Comprehensive benefits package, training and well-being programs
  • 403(b) retirement plan with 5% match after 1 year
  • Free pet adoptions, pet vaccines and spay/neuter services
  • ...and so much more!

What you'll do:
  • Receive emergency calls for service from the public; evaluate the information for possible classification as a Priority One response and dispatch Humane Officers when appropriate in accordance with established procedures.
  • Receive and transmit routine and emergency radio messages with officers in the field and maintain radio contact with officers on assignments. Upon request of the Humane Officer, take action in support of activities taking place in the field.
  • Receive non-emergency calls from the public and provide general informational responses about SDHS operations.
  • Maintain the Shelter Buddy database, Computer Aided Dispatch database and other records systems in support of calls for service. Document facts accurately, legibly, and completely during multiple call situations.
  • Serve as part of any major emergency response by coordinating increased radio and telephone traffic and providing detailed information to citizens, public safety organizations and others on SDHS responses.

What we're looking for:
  • High School Diploma or equivalent required
  • Requires minimum of one (1) year paid experience in the field of customer service handling high-pressure situations in-person or over the phone
  • Advanced training and/or instruction in field of customer service and experience with heavy incoming call volume preferred
  • Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work effectively with a team in a fast-paced and at times stressful environment is essential
  • Bilingual skills a plus, Bilingual-Spanish preferred

Location & Hours: Based at our San Diego Campus. This position works a 4/10 Alternative Work Schedule.
Pay: Starting range is between $22.00 - $24.48 per hour and is eligible for an hourly bilingual-Spanish premium. The actual hourly rate is determined by your related education and experience.
The listed hiring range for this position depicts the target range of pay rates for candidates. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. Compensation for internal candidates may increase beyond the listed range based on performance over time. For all candidates, the actual starting pay rate is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to your years of related education and experience, internal pay equity, and position location.
To learn more about our benefits and perks, click here.

What San Diego Humane Society employees say

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