Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Airfield Operations Specialists vs. Animal Caretakers: Who Earns More?

Airfield Operations Specialistss out-earn Animal Caretakerss by $23K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Airfield Operations Specialistss land at $56,750 and Animal Caretakerss at $33,470. The education gap is real: airfield operations specialist programs typically require no formal educational credential, while animal caretaker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Airfield Operations Specialistss is Washington ($82,540); for Animal Caretakerss it's Washington ($38,400).

Airfield Operations Specialists
Animal Caretakers
Median salary
$56,750
$33,470
Hourly rate
$27.28/hr
$16.09/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,200
$24,500
Senior level (90th %)
$111,030
$46,480
Education required
No formal educational credential
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
16,640
277,300
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Transportation
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Airfield Operations Specialists median pay.

State
Airfield Operations Specialists
Animal Caretakers
Washington
$82,540
$38,400
Arizona
$80,260
$35,170
Oregon
$75,710
$35,310
Alaska
$66,250
$35,570
Maryland
$64,480
$35,990
Florida
$62,600
$30,380
Montana
$61,550
$32,290
Utah
$61,400
$31,550
California
$61,100
$37,200
Pennsylvania
$59,480
$30,260
North Dakota
$49,970
$30,400
New Mexico
$45,140
$30,720
New Jersey
$41,450
$34,530
New York
$40,980
$36,500
Virginia
$39,860
$30,830

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Airfield Operations Specialistss or Animal Caretakerss?

Airfield Operations Specialistss earn more nationally. The median is $56,750 for Airfield Operations Specialistss versus $33,470 for Animal Caretakerss, a difference of $23K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Airfield Operations Specialists or Animal Caretakers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Airfield Operations Specialists or Animal Caretakers?

Airfield Operations Specialists typically requires no formal educational credential. Animal Caretakers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Airfield Operations Specialistss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Airfield Operations Specialistss at $82,540/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Airfield Operations Specialists vs. Animal Caretakers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Airfield Operations Specialistss earn $82,540 vs. $38,400 for Animal Caretakerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Full Animal Caretakers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Animal Caretakerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →How to become a animal caretakersGuide →