Jobs Similar to Animal Caretakers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to animal caretakers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, Embalmers and Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers.
Animal Caretakers: $35,360 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Animal Caretakers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 79% | $38,150+8% | High school |
| 2 | Embalmers | 76% | $58,780+66% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 76% | $33,580−5% | High school |
| 4 | Phlebotomists | 76% | $45,230+28% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Animal TrainersSame group | 75% | $39,990+13% | High school |
| 6 | Orderlies | 75% | $38,290+8% | High school |
| 7 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 75% | $35,5100% | High school |
| 8 | Shampooers | 75% | $32,600−8% | High school |
| 9 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 75% | $35,3600% | High school |
| 10 | Nursing Assistants | 75% | $42,260+20% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Physical Therapist Aides | 74% | $35,2400% | High school |
| 12 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 73% | $47,380+34% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 73% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | 73% | $38,100+8% | High school |
| 15 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 73% | $64,400+82% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Athletic Trainers | 72% | $62,520+77% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Dental Assistants | 72% | $48,070+36% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | 71% | $36,300+3% | High school |
| 19 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 71% | $45,570+29% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 71% | $33,980−4% | High school |
- 1Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
79% similar · $38,150 (+8%) · High school
- 2Embalmers
76% similar · $58,780 (+66%) · Training or associate
- 3Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
76% similar · $33,580 (−5%) · High school
- 4Phlebotomists
76% similar · $45,230 (+28%) · Training or associate
- 5Animal Trainers
75% similar · $39,990 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 6Orderlies
75% similar · $38,290 (+8%) · High school
- 7Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
75% similar · $35,510 (0%) · High school
- 8Shampooers
75% similar · $32,600 (−8%) · High school
- 9Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
75% similar · $35,360 (0%) · High school
- 10Nursing Assistants
75% similar · $42,260 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 11Physical Therapist Aides
74% similar · $35,240 (0%) · High school
- 12Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
73% similar · $47,380 (+34%) · Training or associate
- 13Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
73% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 14Crossing Guards and Flaggers
73% similar · $38,100 (+8%) · High school
- 15Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
73% similar · $64,400 (+82%) · Training or associate
- 16Athletic Trainers
72% similar · $62,520 (+77%) · Graduate degree
- 17Dental Assistants
72% similar · $48,070 (+36%) · Training or associate
- 18Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
71% similar · $36,300 (+3%) · High school
- 19Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
71% similar · $45,570 (+29%) · Training or associate
- 20Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
71% similar · $33,980 (−4%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than animal caretakers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for animal caretakers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where animal caretakers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (89)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (76)
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (75)
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (75)
- Orderlies (75)
- Shampooers (75)
- Animal Control Workers (74)
- Physical Therapist Aides (74)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (73)
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (71)
Questions about jobs like animal caretakers
What jobs are most similar to animal caretakers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (79% similar), Embalmers (76% similar), Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (76% similar), Phlebotomists (76% similar) and Animal Trainers (75% similar).
Which jobs like animal caretakers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses ($64,400, +82%; usually training or an associate degree), Athletic Trainers ($62,520, +77%; usually a graduate degree) and Embalmers ($58,780, +66%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with animal caretakers ($35,360). Without more preparation than animal caretakers usually need: Animal Trainers, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers and Orderlies.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.