Animal Care Technician Jobs
Animal Care Technician jobs are open across veterinary clinics, research laboratories, animal shelters, and zoos, with roles in laboratory animal care, wildlife rehabilitation, and companion animal husbandry from entry-level technician to senior and supervisory positions. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Animal Care Technician
REPORTS TO: Shelter Manager
POSITION OVERVIEW
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of animals? Are you hardworking and dependable? Do you believe that every creature deserves a loving home and compassionate care? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you! Our no-kill animal shelter is currently seeking dedicated individuals to join our team as Animal Care Technicians, both full-time and part-time positions available. If you're looking to combine your love for animals with a rewarding career, read on to learn more about how you can become a vital part of our mission to provide shelter, care, and hope to animals in need.
The primary responsibility of the Animal Care Technician is to provide for the sanitation, enrichment, and care of the animals and upkeep of the adoption floor. They have a significant role in caring for all shelter animals including feeding, cleaning, and exercise. The position also requires direct interaction with other staff members, volunteers, customers, and the general public.
QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- High School Diploma or GED
- Experience working with animal welfare organizations and basic animal care knowledge is required.
- Customer Service experience preferred
- Ability to communicate clearly PAWS’ mission and the humane care and treatment of animals to the public and staff.
- Must be able to represent PAWS professionally at all times.
- Availability to work flexible hours, including weekends, in a fast-paced setting.
- Previous animal care background is desirable, but not required
PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of 18 years old.
- Genuinely enjoys working with animals and is able to deal with them even when stressed, ill, or in pain.
- Perform daily dog and cat kennel cleaning, routine shelter maintenance, and care for animals, indoor adoption floor, and outdoor kennel areas, and subsequent spot cleaning throughout the day including the adoption floor.
- Provides adoption counseling services for the public when needed.
- Maintain animal rooms and adoption floor in a neat, clean, and orderly manner at all times.
- Follow protocol and maintain cleanliness and efficiency of additionally assigned zones, to include: laundry, medical, open room, office/lobby area.
- Provide daily feeding and watering for animals.
- Provide daily exercise for canines, including playing with dogs in play yards and walking dogs.
- Monitor and stock supplies.
Be attentive to medical and behavioral issues of animals and promptly report and monitor any concerns identified. Weigh, monitor, and document weight of animals. Bathe animals.
- Train and work closely with volunteers and community service workers.
- Provide excellent customer service and exercise friendly, helpful interaction with the public, always projecting a positive attitude and image at PAWS.
- Possess a clear understanding and adhere to the mission, standard operating procedures and the policies of PAWS.
- Be punctual for scheduled shifts, and maintain a neat, well-groomed appearance.
- Must work efficiently, with attention to detail, and demonstrate initiative, motivation, creativity, and enthusiasm for the position and PAWS.
- Is well-spoken and approaches his/her job duties in a mature nature.
- Can support and be a part of teamwork; works well with all levels of shelter team members.
- Maintains a positive attitude and stays away from negative chatter
- Physical Effort: Work requires lifting, carrying and handling animals (will be assisted by other staff members in lifting animals as needed). Walks or stands for extended periods or time; frequently works in a bent or squatting position.
- Working conditions: May be exposed to unpleasant odors, noises, and animal feces. May be exposed to bites, scratches, and contagious diseases.
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
- Can provide compassionate care to all animals in the shelter’s care and work compassionately with customers.
- Responsible for cleaning duties and animal care.
- Can conduct oneself in a confident and professional manner even when stressed and/or focused on individual tasks.
- Ability to prioritize task as related to animal care and shelter needs.
- Can legibly keep accurate records in accordance with shelter policy.
- Can perform assessments; record observations legibly in files or on the computer.
- Can effectively restrain pets in a safe and appropriate manner even when large or difficult.
- Understands the importance of a clean and orderly facility, does not hesitate to clean or organize as part of a normal job duty.
- Maintains positive, cooperative relationships with other employees.
- Physically able to be exposed to cleaning chemicals and offensive odors.
- Performs other duties as assigned including assisting in other areas.
Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems in standardized situations.Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Amount of Time Spent on Task
Task None Less than 1/3 1/3 to 2/3 More than 2/3
Stand X
Walk X
Sit X
Use hands to assess, X handle, or feel
Climb or balance X
Stoop, kneel, crouch, or X crawl
Talk, hear, smell X
The job requires the following lifting requirements and/or exerted force be performed on the job.
Amount of Time Spent on Lifting Amount
Lifting Amount None Less than 1/3 1/3 to 2/3 More than 2/3
Up to 10 pounds X
Up to 25 pounds X
Up to 50 pounds X
Up to 100 pounds X (with assistance)
More than 100 X (with assistance) pounds
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust to focus.Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is often exposed to hot, wet and/or humid conditions. Outside work may be required. The noise level in the work environment is may be loud.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Animal Welfare and Protection Society is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Pay: $15.16 - $15.35 per hour
Benefits:
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
Animal Care Technician Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Animal Care Technician JobsAnimal Care Technician Job Market
Who's Hiring
- PetVet Care Centers23
- Lakefield Veterinary10
- Pet Supplies Plus9
- Village Pet Care8
- Best Friends Pet Care7
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Animal Care & Pet Services
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Retail
- Consumer Goods
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in animal care technician jobs.
- Experience with animal restraint and basic husbandry for multiple species
- Knowledge of sanitation protocols and facility biosecurity procedures
- AALAS certification at any level or willingness to obtain it
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for extended periods
- Familiarity with veterinary medical records and treatment documentation
- High school diploma or associate degree in animal science or a related field
Tips for Your Animal Care Technician Job Search
Tailor your resume to the setting
A shelter technician resume and a research vivarium resume read very differently. Highlight the specific species you've handled, husbandry protocols you've followed, and any IACUC compliance experience relevant to the type of facility you're targeting.
List certifications prominently near the top
Credentials like AALAS certification at the Assistant, Technician, or Technologist level stand out immediately to hiring managers in research settings. Put them in a dedicated section above work history so screeners don't miss them during a quick scan.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists animal care technician openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Address physical demands in your cover letter
Many postings list lifting requirements, exposure to allergens, and irregular shift work as real conditions. Confirming upfront that you've worked in similar physical environments removes a common screening hesitation and shows you've read the posting carefully.
Prepare species-specific examples for interviews
Interviewers almost always ask about hands-on experience with the animals their facility actually uses. Prepare two or three concrete stories about restraint techniques, behavioral observation, or treatment assistance for the species most common in that setting.
Follow up by referencing your hands-on fit
A post-interview thank-you note lands better when it connects your specific husbandry background to a need the hiring manager mentioned. Reference a protocol or species they discussed rather than sending a generic note.
Animal Care Technician Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most animal care technicians?
PetVet Care Centers, Lakefield Veterinary, and Pet Supplies Plus are hiring the most animal care technicians right now, with openings concentrated in California, Texas, and Missouri, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Research institutions, national shelter networks, and contract laboratory animal services companies tend to post the highest volumes of openings.
How many animal care technician jobs are remote?
About 6% of animal care technician openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which is low compared to most fields because the work is inherently hands-on. The sub-areas most likely to offer any remote flexibility are administrative or coordination roles within larger animal care programs, such as scheduling, compliance documentation, or client communication.
How do you become an animal care technician?
Most entry-level positions require a high school diploma plus direct experience handling animals, which you can build through shelter volunteering, farm work, or a veterinary assistant role. Earning an AALAS certification strengthens your candidacy significantly, especially for research settings. An associate or bachelor's degree in animal science, biology, or veterinary technology opens doors to more advanced positions and faster advancement.
Can you get hired as an animal care technician with little experience?
Yes, many shelters and general veterinary practices hire candidates with limited formal experience if they demonstrate genuine hands-on comfort with animals. Volunteering at a local shelter, completing a community college animal care course, or shadowing a working technician builds the practical credibility employers look for. Being honest about your experience level and showing willingness to learn restraint and husbandry protocols on the job goes a long way.
What does the animal care technician interview process look like?
Most facilities start with a phone screen focused on your animal handling background and availability for shift work, including weekends and holidays. An in-person or video interview typically follows, with behavioral questions about how you've handled stressed or aggressive animals and scenarios involving sanitation protocols. Some employers, particularly research labs, include a brief facility tour or a practical skills demonstration before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to animal care technician jobs?
You can find and apply to animal care technician jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your experience and preferred setting, whether that's a veterinary clinic, research facility, shelter, or zoo, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 192+ Animal Care Technician Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Animal Care Technician Jobs