Animal Control Officers vs Wildlife Officers
Median pay is about $28k higher for Wildlife Officers. The usual entry education is high school for Animal Control Officers and bachelor's for Wildlife Officers.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Animal Control Officers | Wildlife Officers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $45,660 | $74,060, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $37,750 | $61,430, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $57,060 | $89,110, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +4.0% Growing fast, higher | -5.7% Declining |
| Openings a year | 1,500 | 500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school | Bachelor's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.2 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 24th pct | 20th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, monitoring.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.