Cares for injured, sick and orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing them back into the wild, under state and federal permits. BLS does not publish separate figures for animal caretakers; it counts them within animal caretaker (SOC 39-2021), whose median pay is $35,360 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 39-2021
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Wildlife Rehabilitator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $35,360a year, or $17.00/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $27KTop 10% $50K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +12.1%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+12.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +12.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 62,800365,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025365.3K
- Projected 2035409.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 365.3K Projected 2035 409.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school9.5%
- High school63.6%
- Associate's13.6%
- Bachelor's13.4%
Highest education held by animal caretakers Segment Value Less than high school 9.5% High school 63.6% Associate's 13.6% Bachelor's 13.4%
Also advertised as: Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist, Wildlife Care Specialist, Raptor Rehabilitator.
Pay
How much do Animal Caretakers make?
Every wildlife rehabilitator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$35,360
Middle half earn $29,820 to $40,050
- 10th
- $27,250
- 25th
- $29,820
- 75th
- $40,050
- 90th
- $50,060
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,250 |
| 25th | $29,820 |
| Median | $35,360 |
| 75th | $40,050 |
| 90th | $50,060 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $35,360
- Median hourly wage
- $17.00/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $37,300
- People employed
- 266,910
Versus all US occupations
At $35,360, Animal Caretakers earn 31% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $15,620 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 7% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $50,060 or more while the bottom 10% earn $27,250, a gap of 1.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 1% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $44,210, and still leads at $40,227 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Animal Caretakers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $44,210 | $40,227 | 460 |
| 2Washington | $40,570 | $37,911 | 6,620 |
| 3Hawaii | $40,130 | $36,498 | 570 |
| 4Massachusetts | $39,650 | $37,492 | 6,900 |
| 5California | $38,700 | $34,953 | 25,710 |
| 6Arizona | $38,180 | $37,923 | 6,330 |
| 7New York | $37,840 | $35,063 | 12,470 |
| 8Colorado | $37,430 | $36,321 | 6,290 |
| 9Connecticut | $37,310 | $36,010 | 3,000 |
| 10Maine | $37,230 | $38,362 | 1,430 |
Job outlook
Is Wildlife Rehabilitator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +12.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Animal Caretakers | +12.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Animal Caretakers to change 12.1% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.5× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 44,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 62,800 openings are projected each year, 17.2% of the 365,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Wildlife Rehabilitator
There is no degree requirement, though many rehabilitators study biology, wildlife or veterinary technology. Federal law requires a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service migratory bird rehabilitation permit to care for most wild birds, which calls for documented hands-on experience and a relationship with a veterinarian. Most states also require their own rehabilitation license and facility inspection.
People usually start as volunteers or interns at wildlife rehabilitation centers. The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association offer training courses, publish minimum care standards, and IWRC offers the voluntary Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator credential.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as animal caretakers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)63.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree13.6%
- Bachelor's Degree13.4%
- Less than a High School Diploma9.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 63.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 13.6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 13.4% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 9.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Wildlife Rehabilitator do?
Wildlife rehabilitators take in wild animals hit by cars, caught in fishing line, poisoned, or orphaned when a nest is destroyed. They perform intake exams, stabilize patients, give fluids and medications under veterinary direction, clean wounds, and splint injuries.
Much of the work is feeding and housing animals in ways that keep them wild: hand-feeding baby birds every half hour, raising orphaned squirrels and fawns with minimal human contact, conditioning hawks in flight cages before release. Rehabilitators answer public calls about wildlife conflicts, decide which animals can recover, keep records required by permits, and release healthy animals into suitable habitat. Many also run education programs with non-releasable animals.
Day-to-day tasks
- Perform intake exams on injured and orphaned wild animals
- Administer fluids, medications and wound care under veterinary direction
- Hand-feed and raise orphaned birds and mammals
- Condition animals in flight cages and enclosures before release
- Advise the public on wildlife emergencies and conflicts
- Maintain records required by state and federal permits
- Release recovered animals into suitable habitat
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Rehabilitators work at nonprofit wildlife centers, nature centers, and in licensed home facilities. Spring and summer baby season brings long, intense days, including weekends. The work involves handling wild animals that bite and scratch, cleaning enclosures, and exposure to zoonotic disease, so protective gear and vaccinations are standard.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking2.9
- Writing2.8
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Active Learning2.4
- Mathematics2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.0
- Service Orientation3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
- Time Management2.5
- Instructing2.1
- Systems Analysis2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
| Time Management | 2.5 |
| Instructing | 2.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Wildlife Rehabilitator?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RSI) built on O*NET's Animal Caretaker profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Wildlife Rehabilitator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic6.2
- Social4.3
- Investigative3.4
- Conventional3.3
- Artistic1.6
- Enterprising1.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Wildlife Rehabilitator
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Healthcare Support
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker
$38,150median a year
Most earn $30K to $49K
+9.1%High school - Personal Care and Service
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Protective Service
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with animal caretakers highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Wildlife Rehabilitator$35,360
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Wildlife Rehabilitator | $35,360 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Wildlife Rehabilitator appears on
Questions
Wildlife Rehabilitator: frequently asked questions
How much do Animal Caretakers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for animal caretakers. It counts them within animal caretaker, whose median pay is $35,360 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $29,820 and $40,050, and the top 10% earn $50,060 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Wildlife Rehabilitator?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Animal Caretakers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 63.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Wildlife Rehabilitator a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 12.1% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 62,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Wildlife Rehabilitator do?
Wildlife rehabilitators take in wild animals hit by cars, caught in fishing line, poisoned, or orphaned when a nest is destroyed. A typical task: perform intake exams on injured and orphaned wild animals. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Animal Caretakers the most?
The highest state medians for Animal Caretakers are District of Columbia ($44,210), Washington ($40,570), Hawaii ($40,130) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Wildlife Rehabilitator?
O*NET scores Animal Caretakers highest on the Realistic, Social and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.