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Working With Animals Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Animal Caretaker I

Columbia, TN ยท On-site

$13.46/hr

Job responsibilities require good interpersonal, organizational and decision making skills, experience in animal control activities and working with animals, knowledge of all state regulations and ...

Prior experience working with animals in a hospital setting * Ability to work in a wet environment Benefits * 401k Match for full time employees * Discounted Veterinary Care * Scrub allowance * Hands ...

MUST like animals! Passion for working with all sizes, temperaments & breeds. * Grooming experience required! * Daily maintenance and care of workspace - Cleanliness is a MUST! * Customer Service is ...

MUST like animals! Passion for working with all sizes, temperaments & breeds. * Grooming experience required! * Daily maintenance and care of workspace - Cleanliness is a MUST! * Customer Service is ...

Communication with clients when checking in or checking out their animals * Cleaning out the kennels (including urine, feces and vomit) * Feed, water, walk, and play with pups and cats * Bathing dogs

Pet Care Attendant - Arlington, TN

Arlington, TN ยท On-site

$11 - $13.25/hr

If you enjoy working with animals, thrive in a team environment, and don't mind earning plenty of dog kisses along the way, we'd love to meet you! Why You'll Love It Here * Consistent scheduling that ...

Veterinary Assistant

Hixson, TN ยท On-site

$15 - $18/hr

Previous experience working with animals in a veterinary setting. * Technical know-how in areas such as disinfection, administering medication, and using diagnostic equipment. * Physical ability to ...

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Working With Animals information

See Tennessee salary details

$10

$19

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How much do working with animals jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for working with animals in Tennessee is $19.70, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.15 and $22.45 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced when working with animals in a professional setting?

Professionals working with animals often encounter challenges such as unpredictable animal behavior, physically demanding tasks, and emotional stress from caring for sick or injured animals. Adapting quickly to each animal's unique temperament and needs is essential, as is following strict safety and hygiene protocols. Teamwork is also crucial, as animal care roles frequently require close collaboration with veterinarians, trainers, and other specialists to ensure the well-being of the animals.

What is the difference between Working With Animals vs Animal Care Technician?

AspectWorking With AnimalsAnimal Care Technician
Required CredentialsVaries; often no formal certification neededCertification or training often preferred or required
Work EnvironmentZoos, shelters, farms, pet storesVeterinary clinics, animal shelters, research labs
Employer & Industry UsageAnimal welfare organizations, pet industry, farmsVeterinary hospitals, research facilities, shelters
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles involving animalsDetails about animal care responsibilities and qualifications

Working With Animals is a broad term covering various roles involving animal interaction, while Animal Care Technicians focus specifically on providing medical and daily care in veterinary or shelter settings. Both roles require a passion for animals, but Animal Care Technicians often need specific training or certification. The choice depends on your desired work environment and career goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a career working with animals?

To thrive in a career working with animals, you generally need knowledge of animal behavior, basic animal care, and, for some roles, certifications or degrees in animal science or veterinary technology. Familiarity with animal handling equipment, record-keeping systems, and sometimes first aid or animal CPR certification is typical. Compassion, patience, and strong observational skills are crucial soft skills for ensuring animal welfare and effective communication with team members or pet owners. These skills and qualities are vital for promoting animal health, safety, and positive human-animal interactions in various professional settings.

What does working with animals involve?

Working with animals can include a variety of roles such as veterinary care, animal training, animal shelter work, wildlife conservation, and research. Professionals in this field may care for animals' health, train them for specific tasks, or work to conserve endangered species. The work environment can range from clinics and zoos to laboratories and the wild. Responsibilities often include feeding, cleaning, monitoring behavior, and sometimes educating the public about animal welfare. The job can be physically demanding but is often rewarding for animal lovers.
What are the most commonly searched types of Working With Animals jobs in Tennessee? The most popular types of Working With Animals jobs in Tennessee are:
What are popular job titles related to Working With Animals jobs in Tennessee? For Working With Animals jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Working With Animals jobs in Tennessee look for? The top searched job categories for Working With Animals jobs in Tennessee are:
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Working With Animals jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Working With Animals job openings:
Infographic showing various Working With Animals job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,973 per year, or $19.7 per hour.

Animal Caretaker I

Maury County Tennessee

Columbia, TN โ€ข On-site

$13.46/hr

Other

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Description
Nature of Work
This is responsible animal control work assisting with all aspects of the caring and placement of animals taken to the Maury County Animal Shelter. Activities associated with the job include assisting with the intake of stray or abandoned animals, providing care for them until they are reunited with their owner, adopted or euthanized, ensuring that the shelter is maintained in an organized and sanitary condition and providing the animals with daily nutritional and grooming needs. Additional responsibilities include educating the public about rabies control and regulations governing animals, assisting the public with admitting and/or adopting animals, observing and evaluating the health and condition of animals and assisting in euthanasia activities when necessary. Job responsibilities require good interpersonal, organizational and decision making skills, experience in animal control activities and working with animals, knowledge of all state regulations and local ordinances governing the care and treatment of animals, ability to consistently adhere to established operational policies and procedures and sufficient strength and agility to perform the physically demanding aspects of the job in a variety of weather conditions. Job performance is evaluated by the Animal Shelter Director through review of the effectiveness of animal handling and control activities, ability to effectively supervise and direct the activities of volunteers, knowledge of state regulations and local ordinances governing animal control activities, level of support provided for shelter operations, and organizational, interpersonal and decision making skills.
Illustrative Examples of Work
-Consistently adheres to established operational policies and procedures to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Animal Shelter.
-Assists with supervising and directing the daily activities of all volunteers when necessary.
-Assists with performing required administrative duties such as logging calls, preparing surrender forms, bite reports, etc.
-Assists with ensuring the cleanliness and proper maintenance of the animal shelter and recommending the procurement of maintenance services when necessary.
-Ensures the humane handling and care of all animals taken in by the animal shelter and ensures that each animal's nutritional and housing needs are met on a daily basis.
-Assists the public with the admission and adoption of animals and promotes responsible pet ownership at all times.
-Observes and evaluates animals for signs of illness and reports symptoms to the appropriate personnel.
-Administers medications and assists with restraining animals during euthanasia under the supervision of the Kennel Technician.
-Assists the public with completing application forms and makes assessments of their ability to adequately care for adopted pets.
-Interacts with pet owners and the public when dealing with stray or abandoned animals and animals that have been hurt or have bitten someone.
-Assists with educates the public on the law and ordinances pertaining to animal ownership and control.
-Assists with compiling statistics, maintaining records and preparing reports of shelter activities, animal dispositions and animal control activities.
-Assists with the intake of animals and the day to day showing and adoption of animals.
-Assists in ascertaining the health and disposition of animals brought to the animal shelter.
-Assists with ensuring a proper inventory of all supplies and equipment required for animal control and shelter operations; re-stocks and runs errands when necessary.
-Performs related duties as required.
Requirements
Necessary Requirements of Work
Graduation from an accredited high school; considerable experience working with animals; considerable knowledge of the animal shelter operating policies and procedures, knowledge of common illnesses associated with animals including symptoms and transmission to other animals; good organizational, interpersonal, organizational and decision making skills; considerable knowledge of the nutritional and emotional needs of animals; sufficient strength and agility to perform the physically demanding aspects of the job or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience to provide the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
-Considerable knowledge of state statutes and regulations regarding the care and treatment of animals and animal control activities.
-Considerable knowledge of the statutes, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to animal control, adoption and disposal for Maury County.
-Considerable knowledge of animal handling and apprehension techniques, animal behavior and animal health.
-Considerable knowledge of effective hygiene practices and required maintenance activities for the efficient operation of an animal control shelter.
-Knowledge of administrative practices and procedures pertaining to the preparation and storage of reports and documentation for animal control operations.
-Knowledge of common diseases occurring in domestic animals and the medication(s) and/or treatment procedures to cure and/or alleviate symptoms and prevent the transmission to other animals.
-Knowledge of animal medications and drugs used for tranquilization and euthanasia.
-Ability to consistently adhere to established operational policies and procedures required to ensure the efficient operation of the Animal Shelter.
-Ability to perform the physically demanding aspects of the position in a variety of weather conditions.
-Ability to effectively supervise and direct the activities of volunteers assisting at the animal shelter.
-Ability to interact in a professional, effective manner with pet owners and the public.
-Ability to accurately determine the health and disposition of animals.
-Ability to make proper decisions pertaining to the apprehension and control of animals.
-Ability to prepare reports and maintain documentation in accordance with existing policies and procedures.
-Skill in the operation of a motor vehicle.
Necessary Special Requirements
-Possession of a valid Tennessee Driver's License and the ability to be insured at standard vehicle insurance rates.
-Current Tetanus vaccination on record.
Physical Requirements
  • This is moderate work requiring considerable static, explosive, dynamic and trunk strength and requiring the exertion of up to 60 pounds of force occasionally and up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects
  • Work requires considerable flexibility, mobility and speed of limb movement
  • Work requires considerable effort and stamina
  • Work requires both gross body equilibrium and coordination for balancing, bending, stooping, kneeling and walking
  • Work requires arm/ hand steadiness and manual and finger dexterity
  • Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word
  • Hearing is required to perceive information in both quiet and noisy environments and determine the direction of sounds
  • Visual acuity is required for the inspection of small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operation of office equipment, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, color differentiation, and observing general surroundings and activities
  • The worker is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, temperature extremes, bodily fluids, oils and lubricants, noise and slippery surfaces

Maury County Government
FLSA - Non - Exempt
05/28/2019