1

Pet Care Associate Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM (NOW HIRING)

Retail Operations Lead

Albuquerque, NM

$15 - $18.50/hr

This role is responsible for merchandising and inventory management, pet care operations, opening and/or closing the store, overseeing associates, and maintaining a safe and organized environment.

General Manager

Albuquerque, NM · On-site

$65K - $69K/yr

... pet care and customer service. Who We Are NVA Pet Resorts is part of National Veterinary Associates (NVA) , one of the largest private owners of veterinary hospitals and pet resorts in North America.

Aztec Animal Hospital is seeking a full-time associate veterinarian to join our thriving and ... Pet Care Discount * CE allowance of $1200 * Paid Licenses, Memberships and Renewals * Fear Free ...

July 31st, 2026 National Veterinary Associates is a leading global pet care organization united in the love of animals and the people who love them. NVA, a community of approximately 1,400 premier ...

July 31st, 2026 National Veterinary Associates is a leading global pet care organization united in the love of animals and the people who love them. NVA, a community of approximately 1,400 premier ...

Associate discounts and perks * Paid time off for fulltime associates * Career pathing ... Oversees pet guest healthcare (feeding, watering, etc.). * Completes pet parent transactions and ...

Sales Associate

Albuquerque, NM

$13.50 - $18.50/hr

Pet Care Plan * Legal Insurance For all Kansas Applicants : All offers of employment are subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check. No offer of employment will be extended ...

Sales Associate

Los Lunas, NM

$13.50 - $18.25/hr

Pet Care Plan * Legal Insurance For all Kansas Applicants : All offers of employment are subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check. No offer of employment will be extended ...

Sales Associate

Santa Fe, NM

$12.75 - $17.25/hr

Pet Care Plan * Legal Insurance For all Kansas Applicants : All offers of employment are subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check. No offer of employment will be extended ...

Sales Associate

Santa Fe, NM

$12.75 - $17.25/hr

Pet Care Plan * Legal Insurance For all Kansas Applicants : All offers of employment are subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check. No offer of employment will be extended ...

Sales Associate

Rio Rancho, NM

$13.25 - $18/hr

Pet Care Plan * Legal Insurance For all Kansas Applicants : All offers of employment are subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check. No offer of employment will be extended ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Pet Care Associate information

See Rio Rancho, NM salary details

$8

$17

$30

How much do pet care associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for pet care associate in Rio Rancho, NM is $17.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.33 and $19.09 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Pet Care Associates, and how can they be addressed?

Pet Care Associates often face challenges such as managing multiple animal care tasks simultaneously, handling pets with varying temperaments, and ensuring strict adherence to hygiene and safety protocols. To address these, it's important to stay organized, communicate effectively with team members, and continuously update your knowledge on animal behavior and welfare. Most employers provide on-the-job training, and collaborating closely with experienced staff can help you learn best practices for handling difficult situations and providing the best care for pets.

What are Pet Care Associates?

Pet Care Associates are professionals responsible for the daily care, feeding, and well-being of animals in settings like pet stores, animal shelters, or veterinary clinics. Their duties typically include cleaning enclosures, monitoring animal health, assisting with basic grooming, and providing enrichment to ensure animals are happy and healthy. Pet Care Associates also interact with customers, offering advice on pet care and helping with adoptions or sales. This role requires a genuine love for animals, strong observation skills, and the ability to follow safety and hygiene protocols.

What is the highest paying job in animal care?

The highest paying jobs in animal care typically include specialized roles such as veterinary surgeons, zoo veterinarians, and research veterinarians, with salaries often exceeding $100,000 annually. These positions usually require advanced degrees, certifications, and extensive experience, and may involve working in clinical, research, or conservation settings.

What is the difference between Pet Care Associate vs Pet Groomer?

AspectPet Care AssociatePet Groomer
CredentialsNone required or basic pet care certificationsGrooming certifications or licenses often preferred
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, pet stores, veterinary clinicsGrooming salons, pet spas, veterinary clinics
Job FocusFeeding, walking, basic health careBathing, trimming, styling
Employer & Industry UsagePet retail, shelters, clinicsGrooming salons, pet spas

Pet Care Associates primarily handle daily pet care tasks like feeding and walking, often in shelters or pet stores. Pet Groomers focus on grooming services such as bathing and trimming, usually in grooming salons. While both roles involve working with animals, their skills, certifications, and work environments differ significantly.

What does a pet care worker do?

A pet care worker, also known as a pet care associate, is responsible for feeding, grooming, exercising, and providing companionship to animals. They may also monitor pet health, clean cages or living areas, and follow specific care instructions, often working in pet shelters, kennels, or veterinary clinics. Basic knowledge of animal behavior and handling skills are important for this role.

How hard is it to get hired at PetSmart?

Getting hired as a Pet Care Associate at PetSmart typically involves submitting an application online or in-store, followed by an interview process. Prior customer service or animal care experience can improve chances, but the hiring process is generally straightforward and based on availability and store needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Pet Care Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Pet Care Associate, you need a basic understanding of animal care, handling techniques, and relevant safety procedures, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management software, and animal care equipment is typically required. Strong communication, attention to detail, and compassion for animals help associates connect with pet owners and provide attentive care. These skills ensure the safety and well-being of animals, deliver excellent customer service, and maintain efficient store operations.

What is a pet care associate?

A pet care associate is a professional responsible for caring for animals in settings such as pet stores, kennels, or veterinary clinics. Their duties often include feeding, grooming, exercising, and monitoring animals' health, requiring good animal handling skills and sometimes certification in pet first aid. They typically work part-time or full-time schedules and must follow safety and hygiene protocols.
What are the most commonly searched types of Pet Care jobs in Rio Rancho, NM? The most popular types of Pet Care jobs in Rio Rancho, NM are:
What cities near Rio Rancho, NM are hiring for Pet Care Associate jobs? Cities near Rio Rancho, NM with the most Pet Care Associate job openings:
Infographic showing various Pet Care Associate job openings in Rio Rancho, NM as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $37,425 per year, or $18 per hour.
Retail Operations Lead

Retail Operations Lead

PetSmart

Albuquerque, NM

$15 - $18.50/hr

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


PetSmart rating

6.1

Company rating: 6.1 out of 10

Based on 1,093 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

22nd of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

See More See Less
Job Description  

PetSmart does Anything for Pets - JOIN OUR TEAM! 

Retail Operations Lead

About Life at PetSmart 

Our associates are the heart of Team PetSmart. Together, we're building the best team in retail through our values-based culture, connection, and teamwork. Our goal is to create a culture where associates learn and grow together, thrive as effective teams, and challenge each other to be the best they can be.

Benefits that benefit you 

  • Paid Weekly
  • Health & Wellness Benefits
  • 401k Plan with company match
  • Paid Time off for full-time associates
  • Associate discounts 
  • Tuition Assistance 
  • Career pathing 
  • Development opportunities 

Job Summary

PetSmart's Process Lead (Retail Operations Lead) has shared responsibility to drive operational excellence in our stores while upholding the company's vision, mission, values, and strategy. This role is responsible for merchandising and inventory management, pet care operations, opening and/or closing the store, overseeing associates, and maintaining a safe and organized environment.  

Essential Responsibilities

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following and may vary depending on store characteristics and needs: 

People Leadership:  

  • Support and guide sales associates in merchandise handling, providing training on product knowledge and presentation standards.  
  • Facilitates the associate experience and supports associate development. This includes but is not limited to training, onboarding, mentoring, and coaching for growth as well as providing feedback into associate performance reviews, disciplinary action and promotions. 
  • Delegate and validate completion of daily tasks.  
  • Leads and directs associates when acting as the leader on duty. 
  • Address and administer associate complaints and grievances. 
  • Recognizes and celebrates associates driving overall associate engagement. 

Store Operations and Overall Store Experience:  

  • Execute merchandise strategies to optimize sales, including receiving of product, product placement, seasonal displays, and promotional setups. 
  • Manages inventory levels, conducts regular audits, and analyzes sales trends to make informed recommendations for stock replenishment and markdowns. 
  • Assists in maintaining accurate inventory records, conducting regular audits, and addressing discrepancies. 
  • Operate point-of-sale (POS) systems and handle cash transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies. 
  • Maintains store standards and leads a culture of empowerment by ensuring compliance with our Policies and Procedures (P&Ps) and Code of Ethics. 
  • Shared responsibility with store opening and closing procedures to ensure we uphold our brand promise. 
  • Completes monthly live cycle counts, addresses discrepancies. 
  • Responsible for pet care maintenance, commitment standards (cleaning, feeding, providing water, etc.) and caring for new arrival and sick pets. 
  • Ensures pet parents have a positive experience with online orders including pick-up in store or ship from store.    
  • Supports the associate and pet parent experience at all levels and ensures pets in our care are safe and healthy.  
  • Responsible for taking immediate action and reports when a sick/injured pet is identified in the store; transport to the vet as needed. 
  • Follows company Policies and Procedures to prepare for and receive new store owned pet arrivals. Ensures pets are healthy to move to sales floor after quarantine period. 

Qualifications

  • 2+ years of retail supervisory experience in a customer-focused environment. 
  • Full-time availability required, flexibility in schedule, able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.  
  • Proficiency in computer applications. 
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Ability to react under pressure and maintain composure.  
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly in maintaining a visually appealing store layout. 

Supervisory responsibility

  • No direct reports, however, are expected to guide and support the development of other associates. 
  • Provides feedback on associate performance to direct supervisor.  
  • Acts as the Leader when other Leaders are not in the store. This includes supervising associates, assigning tasks and addressing any concerns. 

Essential physical demands and worn environment

  • Associate required to stand, walk, climb a ladder, and use hands to handle, feel, hold, write, etc. The associate frequently is required to reach with hands and arms: stoop, kneel, crouch, talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include depth perception. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
  • Associate must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally team lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include depth perception. 
  • While performing the duties of this job, the associate is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, as well as a wet environment with an abundance of pet hair. The noise level is moderate in the work environment; however, associates may be exposed to high levels of noise at times. Exposure to live animals and their handling is common. 

Do what you love 

Join us for a chance to make a meaningful impact every day. Whether it's helping a customer choose their first fish, celebrating a pet's birthday, or seeing the smile on a pet parent's face after a fresh groom-you'll create moments that matter. At PetSmart, we cherish diversity and the unique perspectives of our 50,000 associates, all united by a passion for pets. 

We're delighted you're interested in joining our pack and helping us in our commitment to doing Anything for Pets, and the people who love them. We're excited to hear your story and learn more about you! Apply Now!  

PetSmart is an Equal Opportunity Employer  

PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We offer reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout our application process, upon request and as required by law.        

This job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work associates/leaders assigned to this job perform. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. You will be provided with a copy of a job description for the actual position you are hired into. Exact rate of pay will be based on relevant experience level, training, skills or knowledge and store location. This position is paid on a per hour basis. In no instance will PetSmart pay less than the local minimum wage. This position is also eligible for benefits as described at https://benefits.petsmart.com/us/

Applicants must be over the age of 18 (except in Montana or where otherwise required by local or state law)   

For applicants in our Waterloo, San Francisco, or Los Angeles locations: Pursuant to the Waterloo and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in a manner consistent with the law.

Pay Details 
$13.66 - 23.76
Pay Rate Type 
Hourly
Apply Now

What PetSmart employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


PetSmart logo

About PetSmart

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At PetSmart, Anything for Pets begins with our people. Every associate plays a vital role in creating meaningful experiences for pets and their families, and we empower our teams with the tools, resources, and opportunities to grow and succeed. With 50,000+ associates nationwide, we foster a culture grounded in integrity, teamwork, and inclusion - where your voice is heard, your efforts are valued and your career can thrive. Together, we make a difference for pets, their people and each other.

Industry

Retail and legal services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Phoenix, AZ, US