Animal rescue officers work on saving mistreated animals.
Animal rescue officers respond to public calls and investigate reported animal abuse and neglect. They are also responsible for detecting uncontrolled or abandoned animals. These workers rescue the animals from their current conditions and place them in shelters, provide food and general care, check for diseases and perform necessary treatments, and attempt to find new owners. In addition, animal rescue officers might conduct seminars that educate the general public on animal control laws and regulations. The average salary depends on the employer and the location.
Average Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that animal rescue officers in 2009 on average earned an annual salary of $33,560. The workers in the lowest-paid 10th percentile received an annual wage of up to $19,540. The median salary for animal control officers was $31,550 a year, and the top-paid 10 percent had a yearly salary of $51,170 or more.
Salary by Employer
Local governments were the largest employers of animal rescue officers, according to the bureau, and paid the highest average salary for the profession, at $33,800 per year. Social advocacy groups were the second largest employers, and were third in terms of pay, with an annual mean wage of $30,990. Organizations offering various support services were the third largest employers and the fourth highest-paying, with an average pay of $29,700. Colleges and universities were last on the list of the largest employers, but paid the second highest salary, at $31,850 per year.
Salary by State
The bureau reports that California was among largest employers of animal rescue officers in 2009 and also paid the second-highest salary among states, at $46,130 a year on average. Nevada was the number one top-paying state, with an average annual salary of $48,910. Alaska, Minnesota and Washington were also among top five highest-paying states, with annual wages ranging from $39,530 to $41,150. States with the top concentrations of these specialists per 1,000 workers, on the other hand, paid salaries in the lower range, from $23,290 to $32,680 per year.
Salary by Metropolitan Area
Las Vegas, Nevada, was the highest-paying city for animal rescue officers, with an average salary of $52,360 per year. Two California cities, San Jose and Santa Ana, were next, with average wages of $48,810 and $48,370 per year, respectively. Seattle, Washington, and Nassau, New York, were the last two metropolitan areas on the list of the top five highest-paying cities, with annual salaries ranging from $46,230 to $46,740.
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