JOB REPORT / 39-2021 · 22 TASKS

Animal Caretakers.

Can AI do the work of Animal Caretakers?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Answer telephones and schedule appointments
Advise pet owners on how to care for their…
Collect and record animal information

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Animal Caretakers work. It covers the 10 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

10 of 22 tasks reviewed

This job has 22 core tasks. We went through 10 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Animal Caretakers actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
AI DOES
Answers common questions, books appointments, and sends reminders automatically
YOU DO
Read the pet owner's mood and handle tricky or urgent calls with care
TASK 02
Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.
AI DOES
Pulls up breed-specific care tips, common health FAQs, and medication reminders instantly
YOU DO
Read the room, notice the pet's real condition, and build owner trust face to face
TASK 03
Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
AI DOES
Auto-fills record templates, flags unusual trends in weight or food intake, and suggests data fields
YOU DO
Physically observe, handle, and assess each animal up close
TASK 04
Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
AI DOES
Looks up formulas, dosage charts, and species diet guidelines instantly
YOU DO
Measure, mix, and handle ingredients safely with the right animal in front of you
TASK 05
Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
AI DOES
Drafts adoption listings, suggests social media posts, and helps match pet profiles to potential adopters
YOU DO
Build trust with adopters and judge whether a home is truly a good fit
TASK 06
Sell pet food and supplies.
AI DOES
Suggests product recommendations, answers FAQs, or helps write product descriptions online
YOU DO
Read the customer and animal in front of you to match the right product to their real needs
TASK 07
Discuss with clients their pets' grooming needs.
AI DOES
Suggests talking points, breed-specific grooming tips, and common questions to cover
YOU DO
Read the room, build trust with the client, and assess the actual pet in front of you
TASK 08
Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.
AI DOES
Monitors sensor data and flags when conditions drift out of range
YOU DO
Walk the space, read animal behavior, and decide when to override the system
TASK 09
Train animals to perform certain tasks.
AI DOES
Suggests training plans, explains techniques, and helps track progress logs
YOU DO
Be physically present and read each animal's moment-to-moment responses
TASK 10SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
AI DOES
Pulls facts about animals and habitats instantly
YOU DO
Connect with visitors and spark wonder
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Animal Caretakers
SOC code: 39-2021
Tasks reviewed: 10 of 22

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $35,360 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $37,430 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 266,910
Employed in Colorado: 6,290
Job outlook: +12.1% by 2034 · ~74,600 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Answer telephones and schedule appointments.

Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.

Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.

Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.

Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.

Sell pet food and supplies.

Discuss with clients their pets' grooming needs.

Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.

Train animals to perform certain tasks.

Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.