Animal Caretakers
Machines can already do 17% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 51%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Animal Caretakers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 17% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 51% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 266,910 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $35,360 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 81% for contact with people.
- Also called: Animal Care Giver (ACG), Aquarist, Dog Bather, Dog Groomer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles | 23% | 20% to 60% | |
| Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions | 16% | 20% to 60% | |
| Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health | 11% | 20% to 60% | |
| Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment | 4% | 3% to 30% | |
| Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake | 4% | 3% to 30% | |
| Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities | 4% | 20% to 40% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills animal caretakers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Animal Caretakers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of animal caretakers?
Machines can do 17% of the tasks of animal caretakers today and 51% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 39-2021.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Animal Caretakers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/animal-caretakers/