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Work Animal Jobs (NOW HIRING)

In this role, you will provide daily oversight of personnel and animal operations, lead special projects as assigned, and take responsibility for training and developing team members. Work Leaders in ...

In this role, you will provide daily oversight of personnel and animal operations, lead special projects as assigned, and take responsibility for training and developing team members. Work Leaders in ...

Animal Care Tech 1

Santa Fe, NM · On-site

$14.25 - $19.25/hr

The focus of responsibility for the Animal Care Tech I is to provide of extended animal care and ... to work. • Schedule flexibility, including weekends & Holidays. • Communication skills ...

Animal Care Technician

Warsaw, IN · On-site

$13 - $14/hr

Company Description Lake City Animal Health and Wellness Center is a full-service community animal hospital. Our goal is to provide high quality veterinary service in a personable and accommodating ...

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Work Animal information

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$9

$21

$27

How much do work animal jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for work animal in the United States is $21.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are work animals?

Work animals, also known as draft or working animals, are animals that are trained to perform tasks for humans, such as carrying loads, plowing fields, herding livestock, or providing transportation. Common work animals include horses, donkeys, oxen, dogs, camels, and elephants. These animals have been essential in agriculture, transportation, and other industries throughout human history, especially before the advent of modern machinery. Today, work animals are still used in many parts of the world, particularly in rural or developing areas.

What jobs can I do with animals?

Work animals are used in various roles such as police work, search and rescue, therapy, farming, and entertainment. These jobs often require specific training, certifications, and knowledge of animal behavior and safety protocols. Common environments include farms, zoos, rescue organizations, and service settings.

What are some of the key challenges faced by work animal caretakers, and how can they be addressed to ensure animal welfare and productivity?

Caretakers of work animals often encounter challenges such as preventing overwork, managing injuries, and providing proper nutrition and rest. Balancing workload with the animal's physical capabilities is critical to maintaining health and productivity. Effective communication with veterinarians and regular health assessments help in early detection of issues, while ongoing training ensures animals are handled safely and humanely. Building strong relationships with the animals and understanding their behavior also contributes to a safer and more productive work environment.

What jobs pay 4000 a week without a degree?

For a work animal or related roles, high-paying jobs that can reach $4,000 weekly without a degree are rare and typically involve specialized skills or experience. Examples include certain freelance or contract positions such as animal trainers, equine specialists, or working in the entertainment industry, where income depends on skill level, reputation, and workload. Most high-paying roles in this field require hands-on experience, certifications, or licensing rather than formal degrees.

What are good careers that work with animals?

Careers that work with animals include roles such as animal trainer, veterinarian, zookeeper, wildlife rehabilitator, and pet groomer. These jobs often require specific skills, certifications, or degrees, and involve working in environments like clinics, zoos, farms, or shelters.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Work Animal, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Work Animal, essential traits include physical strength, stamina, trainability, and a temperament suited to working closely with humans, with selection often based on breed and health. Training typically involves learning to use harnesses, respond to commands, and operate within specific environments or alongside machinery. Patience, reliability, and responsiveness are crucial soft attributes that make a work animal excel in tasks such as farming, transport, or service work. These qualities ensure safety, efficiency, and harmonious collaboration between animals and their handlers in demanding work settings.

What is the best paying job that involves animals?

The highest paying jobs involving animals include specialized roles such as veterinary surgeons, animal researchers, and zoo directors, with veterinary surgeons often earning the most due to required advanced degrees and certifications. These positions typically require extensive education, clinical experience, and sometimes management responsibilities, and they often involve working in clinical, research, or institutional environments.

What is the difference between Work Animal vs Service Animal?

AspectWork AnimalService Animal
Credentials/CertificationsTypically no formal certification, but may require trainingMust be trained and certified according to ADA standards
Work EnvironmentRural, agricultural, or specialized settingsPublic spaces, indoor and outdoor environments
Employer/Industry UsageUsed in farming, transportation, or entertainment industriesAssists individuals with disabilities in daily activities
Search/Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles of working animalsAssistance for disabled individuals

Work animals are trained to perform tasks in agricultural or specialized settings, often without formal certification. Service animals are specifically trained to assist individuals with disabilities and must meet strict certification standards. While work animals are used in industries like farming, service animals are permitted in public spaces to aid their handlers. Both play vital roles but serve different purposes and environments.

More about Work Animal jobs
What cities are hiring for Work Animal jobs? Cities with the most Work Animal job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Work Animal jobs? The most popular types of Work Animal jobs are:
What states have the most Work Animal jobs? States with the most job openings for Work Animal jobs include:
Infographic showing various Work Animal job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,783 per year, or $21 per hour.
Animal Services Officer

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Description

At the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) our Animal Services Officers are our community advocates for the humane treatment of all animals and the education of our community members on the humane treatment of domestic animals and wildlife. This is a dynamic position responsible for enforcing local and state animal welfare and animal control laws, with an emphasis on compassion, understanding, and education towards all members of our community. Animal Services Officers are routinely tasked with the rescue of domestic animals and wildlife from precarious situations and providing emergency care to those animals. 

Requirements

  Essential job functions include:


- Investigating and resolving all complaints of cruelty to animals in the City of Alexandria in a prompt and efficient manner

- Enforcing all state and city laws pertaining to the humane care and control of animals.

- Effectively working with attorneys, police officials, veterinarians, and others to resolve cases of animal abuse and neglect

- Ensuring that everything legally possible and prudent has been done to improve the quality of life for the animal involved, alleviate their suffering, and to educate or take appropriate legal action with the animal's custodian when answering a call

- Conducting follow-up with citizens, as appropriate, to ensure continuing compliance with laws and proper animal care; inspecting and issuing all permits indicated by law

- Must be willing to work after hours on call and respond to emergencies as needed

- Complying with all aspects of the rabies control program

- Ensuring animals who need to be captured are done so humanely, the transportation is as comfortable as possible, and that emergency first aid and/or prompt veterinary care is rendered, if appropriate

- The removal and handling of deceased animals. 

- Ability to obtain euthanasia certification within one year of employment. After certification, be able to safely and humanely euthanize wildlife and companion animals when needed. Must have the ability to safely handle drugs for the purpose of humane euthanasia and accurately calculate drug dosages and track the use of these drugs for reporting purposes. 

  - Properly operating and maintaining City issued animal control vehicles, ensuring that vehicles are supplied with all necessary equipment and are maintained in a sanitary manner, and verify if inspections are current

- Maintaining a polite, professional, and informative demeanor for other staff members, veterinarians, police department officials, attorneys, representatives from other agencies, and the general public

- Administrative duties including but not limited to, writing accurate and timely reports on all work activities, entering and updating all animal records in a timely manner, and participating in community programs to promote the humane treatment of all animals. 

- Other duties as assigned to support the AWLA's mission


Required: Candidates must be at least 21 years of age and have a clean driving record; must have a high school diploma or equivalent; have a proven ability to handle multiple tasks in a busy workplace environment; have the ability to accurately perform basic mathematical calculations; have interest in the humane care and treatment of animals; have a proven ability to interact with others in a positive and friendly manner; have the ability to learn, understand and effectively communicate State code and City ordinances; have the ability to attain certification as a euthanasia technician within the first six months of employment; have the ability to pass the state's Animal Control Basic Course within one year of appointment; have the ability to pass course in chemical immobilization techniques within one year of employment; have the ability to receive rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis; must be able to regularly lift 50 plus pounds, stand, sit, walk.


The specific physical and sensory capabilities generally required for the role include:

- Heavy Lifting and Carrying: Ability to occasionally lift and drag heavy, injured, or deceased animals (often exceeding 100 lbs) for short distances.


- Mobility and Agility: Must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb over obstacles in challenging, uneven, or unprotected environments.


- Grasping and Manual Dexterity: Fine and firm hand manipulation is required to safely operate catch poles, traps, dart guns, and other specialized animal control equipment. 


- Sensory Requirements: Officers must have excellent visual acuity for driving, spotting animals, and identifying behaviors, as well as normal vocal communication and hearing to interact effectively with the public.


- Endurance: Must be prepared to work long shifts, respond to after-hours emergencies, and spend extensive periods standing, walking, or driving in all types of weather. 


Working Conditions: The Animal Services Officer will work indoors in a high noise, air-conditioned/heated building; outdoors at the shelter and in the community; on-location for various activities. After hours on-call hours are required and situations may sometimes involve unsafe and uncomfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors, such as human or animal violence, disease, traffic, wetness, dust, or equipment and machinery that pose a risk of injury. The job includes use of a PC, printer, copy machine, fax machine, telephone, animal control van, and various animal control equipment. Candidates must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds. Work hours will vary with 10 hour shifts required, with evening, weekend, and holiday hours required. Continuing education is required.


Preferred: Training and/or experience in a law enforcement field; Training and/or experience in an animal care field. Additional written and spoken languages are preferred.

Compensation: The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation. The AWLA provides health care, dental, and vision coverage, a retirement plan, and additional employee benefits. This is a non-exempt position with a starting annual salary of $50,648. Pay will be commensurate with experience.


The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.

Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training.