What is a pet handler and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a pet handler. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.12 an hour? That's $31,455 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 28% and produce 101,200 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScorePet HandlerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,455

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.7

Growth Rate 28%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.14%

Asian 1.66%

Black or African American 4.43%

Hispanic or Latino 14.66%

Unknown 6.96%

White 72.15%

Gender

female 75.00%

male 25.00%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress Level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.3

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
9.3

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a pet handler

  1. Explore pet handler education requirements

    Most common pet handler degrees

    High School Diploma

    41.2 %

    Bachelor's

    38.2 %

    Associate

    14.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific pet handler skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    PET100.00%
  3. Complete relevant pet handler training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pet handlers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a pet handler based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pet handler resumes.
  4. Research pet handler duties and responsibilities

    • Achieve detailed grooming including skin, ear, nail care, coat clips and dental care.
    • Encourage sales of merchandise and products need for their new pet companions.
    • Track inventory of animals on a daily basis from shipments to sales.
    • Pet sitting, dog walking, transporting dogs to groomers and back home, cleaning up after the animals, etc.
  5. Prepare your pet handler resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pet handler resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a pet handler resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Pet Handler Resume templates

    Build a professional Pet Handler resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Pet Handler resume.
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
    Pet Handler Resume
  6. Apply for pet handler jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a pet handler job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Pet Handler Job

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Are you a Pet Handler?

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Average pet handler salary

The average Pet Handler salary in the United States is $31,455 per year or $15 per hour. Pet handler salaries range between $22,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average Pet Handler Salary
$31,455 Yearly
$15.12 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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