Short answer
Unlikely. BLS rates the work's exposure to AI as moderate, below the middle of the pack, and still projects employment to grow faster than average.
AI and jobs
Will AI Replace Animal Caretakers? (2026)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics places animal caretakers in its moderate AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not. BLS projects employment to change by +12.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 62,800 openings a year.
- BLS AI exposure
- ModerateBLS EP supplemental table
- AI-resilience score
- 56/100Higher than 75% of jobs · NueCareer
- Projected change
- +12.1%BLS EP 2025–2035; all jobs 3.5%
- Openings a year
- 62,800BLS EP 2025–2035
The federal measure
How exposed animal caretakers are to AI
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a relative AI exposure category for each occupation it projects, built from five public measures of where AI could be, or already is, used to assist with or complete the work. Animal Caretakers land in the moderate category: below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Where this job sits on the BLS scale
786 occupations in the NueCareer bank, in BLS's four relative categories; width shows how many fall in each
- Low203 occupations · 26%
- Moderate · this job194 occupations · 25%
- High190 occupations · 24%
- Very high199 occupations · 25%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories supplemental table.
- Exposure is relative. The categories rank occupations against each other; they are not a probability that a job is automated.
- BLS says exposure does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. A highly exposed job can still grow if AI makes the people in it more productive.
- The classification reflects AI capabilities as the underlying studies measured them. Read the BLS method and limitations.
Inside the work
What AI can and cannot do in this job
O*NET rates how important each work activity is to an occupation and how often each working condition comes up. The ratings below are the ones that move the job's NueCareer AI-resilience score the most: the ones that pull it up, and the ones that pull it down. Only ratings clearly above the midpoint count.
What holds up
Physical, hands-on and person-to-person work
- Face-to-face discussions4.9/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Performing general physical activities4.2/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Handling and moving objects3.9/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Working outdoors in all weather4.0/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
What AI reaches first
Routine, repeatable and screen-based work
- Getting information4.4/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Documenting/recording information3.6/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Processing information3.5/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates4.2/5O*NET work activity, importance
The tasks O*NET lists for animal caretakers
- Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
- Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
- Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
- Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
- Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
O*NET 31.0 Database task statements, most important first.
The jobs
Will there still be jobs?
Exposure says where AI meets the work. The BLS projection says what the labor market is expected to do over 2025–2035. BLS projects +12.1% change in employment over the decade, against 3.5% across all occupations, and about 62,800 openings a year once retirements and career changes are counted. About 266,910 people work in the job today, at a median of $35,360 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Full animal caretaker profile: pay by state, entry route and skills
Options
Related careers less exposed to AI than animal caretakers
Careers O*NET lists as related to the work, or in the same field at similar pay, that BLS places in a lower exposure category.
Animal Trainer
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $39,990median a year
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 6,500
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 61/100
- resilience
Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities.
Shampooer
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $32,600median a year
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 57/100
- resilience
Shampoo and rinse customers' hair.
Questions
Will AI Replace Animal Caretakers? FAQ
Will AI replace animal caretakers?
Unlikely. BLS rates the work's exposure to AI as moderate, below the middle of the pack, and still projects employment to grow faster than average. BLS defines exposure as AI being able to assist with or complete some of the work, and says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains or wage effects. BLS projects employment to change by +12.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 62,800 openings a year.
How exposed are animal caretakers to AI?
BLS sorts 786 occupations into four relative categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Animal Caretakers are in the moderate category, alongside 193 other occupations. The categories combine five public measures of where AI could be or already is used, and they compare occupations with each other rather than giving an absolute risk.
What parts of an animal caretaker's job can AI do?
In O*NET's description of the work, the parts that overlap most with what AI handles well are getting information, documenting/recording information and processing information. The parts that hold up best are face-to-face discussions, performing general physical activities and handling and moving objects. These come from O*NET ratings of how important each activity is to the job, read through NueCareer's AI-resilience method.
Is being an animal caretaker a safe career from AI?
On NueCareer's AI-resilience score, built from O*NET work activities, animal caretakers score 56 out of 100, higher than 75% of the occupations we score. The job pays a median of $35,360 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No job is fully safe from technological change, but the federal exposure category and the projected openings are the two numbers worth weighing.
What careers similar to animal caretakers are less exposed to AI?
Animal Trainer (low exposure, $39,990 median), Shampooer (low exposure, $32,600 median). Each is in a lower BLS exposure category than animal caretakers, and most are listed by O*NET as related to the work.
The AI exposure category is the Bureau of Labor Statistics'. The AI-resilience score and the activity breakdown are NueCareer's analysis of O*NET 31.0 Database data (method), not a federal figure. More: jobs most exposed to AI, jobs least exposed to AI, or check any job.