Career Explorer Protective services
Human edge, growing
Animal control workers
Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 75% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.0% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and emotional intelligence.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $45,660
- Job growth to 2035
- +4.0%
- Openings a year
- 1,500
- People doing it (2025)
- 13,800
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Care for plants or animals
- Explain regulations, policies, or procedures
- Issue documentation
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Interview people to obtain information
- Maintain operational records
- Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities
What the work looks like
- Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
- Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
- Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
- Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
- Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialistsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +13.1%
- Fire inspectors and investigatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 79, +4.2%
- Aircraft cargo handling supervisorsHuman edge, growing, Index 97, +9.2%
- FirefightersHuman edge, growing, Index 91, +3.7%
Also known as: ACO (Animal Control Officer), Animal Enforcement Officer, Animal Park Code Enforcement Officer, Animal Services Officer, Animal Attendant, Animal Cruelty Investigator, Animal Instructor Officer, Animal Ordinance Enforcement Officer.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.