Animal Care Services Occupations
Animal care workers look after animals in shelters, farms, clinics and wildlife centres. They keep animals healthy and safe, and help teach people how to care for pets properly.
Animal Care Services Occupations
6AI EXPOSURE TODAY6
20-YEAR SCENARIO
NOT A FORECAST51%
THE DOOR · ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAYB
STARTING PAY£18,000 - £22,000
MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIEDA real score, but the moat is not yet classified. No claim either way.
THE DOOR: ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAY, graded A (easy) to E (extremely hard). A Careermash rule-of-thumb index built from our AI exposure index and the job's moat class. It is not a forecast and not a count of job openings.
AI EXPOSURE TODAY is a Careermash index from 0 to 100 of how exposed this job's everyday tasks are to AI today. We estimate it by matching published research on how people use AI to this job, usually by keyword or subject area, and we lower it where the work is protected (for example by physical, personal or legal requirements). It is not a direct measurement of how much people in this job use AI.
AI exposure is low for this work today
AI exposure today for this job is low on our index (6), an estimate rather than a measurement. We have not yet classified what, if anything, structurally protects it, so we make no claim either way about a moat. Learn the tools, and build the judgement that stays human.
Career progression path
1FIRST STEPJunior Animal Care AssistantAs a Junior Animal Care Assistant, you will support senior staff in daily animal care tasks, gaining hands-on experience in a variety of settings. This role is perfect for those starting their journey in animal care.£18,000 - £22,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEAnimal Care SupervisorIn the role of Animal Care Supervisor, you will oversee a team of assistants, ensuring high standards of animal welfare and care. You will also be involved in training new staff and liaising with veterinary professionals.£24,000 - £30,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Animal Welfare OfficerAs a Senior Animal Welfare Officer, you will lead initiatives to improve animal welfare standards across organisations. This role involves strategic planning, policy development, and collaboration with various stakeholders.£35,000+
Real apprenticeship standards
Live UK apprenticeship standards that lead into this career, from the Institute for Apprenticeships register.
L2Animal care and welfare assistant12 months typicalnot published
There is more than one way inYou do not have to go the university route to get here. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely. Some employers will take you on here with no formal qualifications at all, if you can show you can do the work.