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Salary comparison

Amusement and Recreation Attendants vs. Animal Caretakers: Who Earns More?

Animal Caretakerss out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendantss by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Amusement and Recreation Attendantss land at $30,490 and Animal Caretakerss at $33,470. The education gap is real: amusement and recreation attendant programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while animal caretaker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Amusement and Recreation Attendantss is Alaska ($40,970); for Animal Caretakerss it's Washington ($38,400).

Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Animal Caretakers
Median salary
$30,490
$33,470
Hourly rate
$14.66/hr
$16.09/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$21,940
$24,500
Senior level (90th %)
$39,940
$46,480
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
371,590
277,300
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Alaska
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Amusement and Recreation Attendants median pay.

State
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Animal Caretakers
Alaska
$40,970
$35,570
Washington
$36,700
$38,400
District of Columbia
$36,140
$37,980
California
$35,570
$37,200
New York
$35,540
$36,500
Maryland
$34,640
$35,990
Vermont
$34,440
$35,600
Massachusetts
$33,860
$36,910
Oregon
$33,810
$35,310
Maine
$33,700
$36,310
Connecticut
$32,640
$36,330
New Jersey
$31,710
$34,530
Arizona
$31,070
$35,170
Illinois
$30,980
$34,440
Rhode Island
$29,270
$34,930

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Amusement and Recreation Attendantss or Animal Caretakerss?

Animal Caretakerss earn more nationally. The median is $30,490 for Amusement and Recreation Attendantss versus $33,470 for Animal Caretakerss, a difference of $3K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Amusement and Recreation Attendants 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, Amusement and Recreation Attendants or Animal Caretakers?

Amusement and Recreation Attendants typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Animal Caretakers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Amusement and Recreation Attendantss get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Amusement and Recreation Attendantss at $40,970/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Amusement and Recreation Attendants vs. Animal Caretakers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Amusement and Recreation Attendantss earn $40,970 vs. $35,570 for Animal Caretakerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary breakdownView →Full Animal Caretakers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendantss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Animal Caretakerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →How to become a animal caretakersGuide →