[Core] [110% incumbents] Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
  DWAs: Monitor health or behavior of people or animals.

[Core] [110% incumbents] Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
  DWAs: Prepare foods or meals.

[Core] [110% incumbents] Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
  DWAs: Document client health or progress.

[Supplemental] [110% incumbents] Transfer animals between enclosures to facilitate breeding, birthing, shipping, or rearrangement of exhibits.
  DWAs: Care for animals.

[Supplemental] [110% incumbents] Train animals to perform certain tasks.
  DWAs: Train animals.

[Supplemental] [110% incumbents] Order, unload, and store feed and supplies.
  DWAs: Maintain supply or equipment inventories. | Order materials, supplies, or equipment.

[Core] [109% incumbents] Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
  DWAs: Care for animals.

[Core] [109% incumbents] Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
  DWAs: Administer basic health care or medical treatments.

[Core] [109% incumbents] Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
  DWAs: Care for animals.

[Core] [109% incumbents] Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
  DWAs: Care for animals.

[Supplemental] [109% incumbents] Clean and disinfect surgical equipment.
  DWAs: Clean tools or equipment.

[Supplemental] [109% incumbents] Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.
  DWAs: Maintain facilities.

[Supplemental] [109% incumbents] Install, maintain, and repair animal care facility equipment, such as infrared lights, feeding devices, and cages.
  DWAs: Maintain facilities.

[Core] [108% incumbents] Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
  DWAs: Clean facilities or work areas. | Perform housekeeping duties. | Maintain facilities.

[Core] [108% incumbents] Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
  DWAs: Respond to customer inquiries.

[Core] [108% incumbents] Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
  DWAs: Schedule appointments. | Perform administrative or clerical tasks.

[Supplemental] [108% incumbents] Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
  DWAs: Care for animals.

[Supplemental] [108% incumbents] Discuss with clients their pets' grooming needs.
  DWAs: Discuss service options or needs with clients.

[Supplemental] [108% incumbents] Anesthetize and inoculate animals, according to instructions.
  DWAs: Administer basic health care or medical treatments.

[Core] [107% incumbents] Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.
  DWAs: Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress. | Provide care for animals. | Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.

[Supplemental] [107% incumbents] Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals.
  DWAs: Monitor patron activities to identify problems or potential problems. | Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.

[Supplemental] [107% incumbents] Sell pet food and supplies.
  DWAs: Sell products or services.

[EMERGING:New] Scuba dive in aquariums to perform exhibit maintenance.

[EMERGING:New] Train volunteers and facility staff.

--- SKILLS ---
  Monitoring (imp:3.12 lvl:2.88) — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organization
  Reading Comprehension (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  Active Listening (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand
  Speaking (imp:2.88 lvl:2.75) — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  Writing (imp:2.75 lvl:2.50) — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audienc
  Critical Thinking (imp:2.75 lvl:2.88) — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternativ
  Active Learning (imp:2.38 lvl:2.12) — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future pr
  Mathematics (imp:2.00 lvl:1.88) — Using mathematics to solve problems.
  Learning Strategies (imp:2.00 lvl:2.00) — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate fo
  Science (imp:1.50 lvl:0.50) — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

--- KNOWLEDGE ---
  Customer and Personal Service (imp:4.20 lvl:4.32) — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal servic
  Administrative (imp:3.13 lvl:3.02) — Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word proce
  English Language (imp:3.07 lvl:3.62) — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the mea
  Education and Training (imp:2.62 lvl:2.75) — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching
  Administration and Management (imp:2.54 lvl:2.45) — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, 
  Psychology (imp:2.52 lvl:2.43) — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, 
  Mathematics (imp:2.45 lvl:2.30) — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their appl
  Public Safety and Security (imp:2.42 lvl:2.17) — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote
  Chemistry (imp:2.39 lvl:2.35) — Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances a
  Biology (imp:2.38 lvl:2.15) — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interd
  Computers and Electronics (imp:2.25 lvl:2.56) — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and comput
  Communications and Media (imp:2.23 lvl:2.26) — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and m
  Personnel and Human Resources (imp:2.15 lvl:2.17) — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, tra
  Medicine and Dentistry (imp:2.12 lvl:1.66) — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human i
  Sales and Marketing (imp:2.11 lvl:2.04) — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products
  Mechanical (imp:1.99 lvl:1.78) — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and main
  Production and Processing (imp:1.95 lvl:1.53) — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ot
  Therapy and Counseling (imp:1.82 lvl:1.68) — Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and r
  Economics and Accounting (imp:1.78 lvl:1.30) — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial mar
  Telecommunications (imp:1.73 lvl:0.91) — Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of te
  Transportation (imp:1.71 lvl:1.31) — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea
  Sociology and Anthropology (imp:1.69 lvl:1.31) — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human 
  Food Production (imp:1.68 lvl:0.98) — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food
  Geography (imp:1.64 lvl:1.27) — Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, an
  Engineering and Technology (imp:1.59 lvl:1.29) — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. Th
  Law and Government (imp:1.59 lvl:1.15) — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulat
  Design (imp:1.52 lvl:1.15) — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of 
  Foreign Language (imp:1.50 lvl:0.69) — Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language inclu
  Philosophy and Theology (imp:1.50 lvl:1.03) — Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their 
  Physics (imp:1.47 lvl:0.82) — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships,
  Fine Arts (imp:1.45 lvl:0.83) — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform
  Building and Construction (imp:1.40 lvl:0.82) — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or r
  History and Archeology (imp:1.39 lvl:0.70) — Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civi

--- ABILITIES ---
  Oral Comprehension (imp:3.25 lvl:3.25) — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through 
  Oral Expression (imp:3.12 lvl:3.25) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will unde
  Problem Sensitivity (imp:3.12 lvl:3.25) — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does no
  Information Ordering (imp:3.12 lvl:2.75) — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according
  Static Strength (imp:3.12 lvl:3.12) — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  Near Vision (imp:3.12 lvl:3.00) — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  Deductive Reasoning (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that 
  Inductive Reasoning (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusion
  Trunk Strength (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the 
  Speech Recognition (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  Speech Clarity (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  Written Comprehension (imp:2.88 lvl:2.75) — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  Arm-Hand Steadiness (imp:2.88 lvl:2.75) — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while hold
  Extent Flexibility (imp:2.88 lvl:3.00) — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Far Vision (imp:2.88 lvl:2.62) — The ability to see details at a distance.
  Manual Dexterity (imp:2.75 lvl:2.25) — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your
  Stamina (imp:2.75 lvl:2.25) — The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getti
  Category Flexibility (imp:2.62 lvl:2.62) — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping
  Flexibility of Closure (imp:2.62 lvl:2.12) — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or so
  Selective Attention (imp:2.62 lvl:2.38) — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distrac
  Finger Dexterity (imp:2.62 lvl:2.38) — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or bot
  Written Expression (imp:2.50 lvl:2.25) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will under
  Auditory Attention (imp:2.38 lvl:2.12) — The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distra
  Multilimb Coordination (imp:2.25 lvl:2.12) — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or
  Fluency of Ideas (imp:2.12 lvl:1.75) — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas
  Memorization (imp:2.12 lvl:2.00) — The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and proced
  Perceptual Speed (imp:2.12 lvl:2.12) — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among
  Time Sharing (imp:2.12 lvl:2.12) — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of
  Dynamic Strength (imp:2.12 lvl:2.12) — The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This inv
  Gross Body Coordination (imp:2.12 lvl:2.00) — The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together wh
  Originality (imp:2.00 lvl:1.88) — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situa
  Mathematical Reasoning (imp:2.00 lvl:1.50) — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a prob
  Number Facility (imp:2.00 lvl:1.75) — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  Speed of Closure (imp:2.00 lvl:2.00) — The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into mea
  Visualization (imp:2.00 lvl:2.00) — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when 
  Control Precision (imp:2.00 lvl:1.88) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehi
  Visual Color Discrimination (imp:2.00 lvl:2.00) — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of c
  Depth Perception (imp:2.00 lvl:1.50) — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you
  Speed of Limb Movement (imp:1.88 lvl:1.38) — The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
  Gross Body Equilibrium (imp:1.88 lvl:1.25) — The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unsta
  Hearing Sensitivity (imp:1.88 lvl:1.62) — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch 
  Sound Localization (imp:1.75 lvl:0.75) — The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
  Response Orientation (imp:1.62 lvl:0.75) — The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two o
  Spatial Orientation (imp:1.50 lvl:0.50) — The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know wher
  Reaction Time (imp:1.50 lvl:0.62) — The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sou
  Explosive Strength (imp:1.50 lvl:0.62) — The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping
  Wrist-Finger Speed (imp:1.38 lvl:0.50) — The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and 
  Dynamic Flexibility (imp:1.25 lvl:0.38) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with yo
  Peripheral Vision (imp:1.12 lvl:0.12) — The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes ar
  Rate Control (imp:1.00) — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in an
  Night Vision (imp:1.00) — The ability to see under low-light conditions.
  Glare Sensitivity (imp:1.00) — The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.

--- WORK ACTIVITIES ---
  Getting Information (imp:4.38 lvl:3.18) — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sour
  Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (imp:4.22 lvl:3.82) — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone,
  Performing General Physical Activities (imp:4.19 lvl:4.65) — Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require co
  Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (imp:4.01 lvl:3.38) — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or 
  Handling and Moving Objects (imp:3.85 lvl:5.79) — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials,
  Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (imp:3.80 lvl:3.85) — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment,
  Making Decisions and Solving Problems (imp:3.71 lvl:3.55) — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and sol
  Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (imp:3.60 lvl:4.37) — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your
  Documenting/Recording Information (imp:3.58 lvl:2.65) — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in writte
  Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (imp:3.57 lvl:4.16) — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and m
  Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (imp:3.55 lvl:2.71) — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors o
  Processing Information (imp:3.45 lvl:3.42) — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying
  Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (imp:3.38 lvl:3.43) — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  Thinking Creatively (imp:3.36 lvl:3.37) — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, syste
  Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (imp:3.36 lvl:3.60) — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving
  Assisting and Caring for Others (imp:3.27 lvl:3.28) — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other pe
  Communicating with People Outside the Organization (imp:3.24 lvl:3.28) — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organizatio
  Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (imp:3.22 lvl:2.55) — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (imp:3.12 lvl:2.96) — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (imp:3.01 lvl:2.56) — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events o
  Training and Teaching Others (imp:2.98 lvl:2.94) — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or tr
  Scheduling Work and Activities (imp:2.96 lvl:2.84) — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  Working with Computers (imp:2.93 lvl:2.32) — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to progra
  Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (imp:2.92 lvl:3.00) — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, 
  Developing Objectives and Strategies (imp:2.89 lvl:2.41) — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to 
  Developing and Building Teams (imp:2.73 lvl:2.07) — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team membe
  Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (imp:2.64 lvl:2.18) — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resourc
  Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others (imp:2.62 lvl:2.95) — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  Coaching and Developing Others (imp:2.59 lvl:2.52) — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherw
  Performing Administrative Activities (imp:2.59 lvl:2.37) — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files
  Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (imp:2.49 lvl:2.40) — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical,
  Monitoring and Controlling Resources (imp:2.49 lvl:2.43) — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  Analyzing Data or Information (imp:2.42 lvl:2.21) — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by break
  Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (imp:2.40 lvl:1.28) — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, s
  Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (imp:2.24 lvl:1.83) — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance 
  Selling or Influencing Others (imp:2.23 lvl:2.19) — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or
  Controlling Machines and Processes (imp:2.14 lvl:1.99) — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines 
  Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (imp:1.82 lvl:1.31) — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, an
  Staffing Organizational Units (imp:1.68 lvl:1.19) — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organ
  Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (imp:1.56 lvl:1.04) — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines,
  Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (imp:1.35 lvl:0.58) — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to t

--- WORK STYLES ---
  Dependability (imp:2.27) — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o
  Cooperation (imp:1.99) — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Attention to Detail (imp:1.94) — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Sincerity (imp:1.72) — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Optimism (imp:1.71) — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Integrity (imp:1.70) — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Perseverance (imp:1.61) — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Cautiousness (imp:1.53) — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Self-Control (imp:1.53) — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Stress Tolerance (imp:1.27) — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
  Humility (imp:1.12) — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Initiative (imp:1.07) — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Empathy (imp:1.07) — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Social Orientation (imp:1.02) — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Dependability (imp:1.00) — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o
  Self-Confidence (imp:0.89) — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Achievement Orientation (imp:0.75) — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Tolerance for Ambiguity (imp:0.60) — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Adaptability (imp:0.55) — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Intellectual Curiosity (imp:0.43) — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Leadership Orientation (imp:0.06) — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Innovation () — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 
  Achievement Orientation () — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Intellectual Curiosity () — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Tolerance for Ambiguity () — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Initiative () — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Adaptability () — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Self-Confidence () — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Perseverance () — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Leadership Orientation () — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Humility () — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Sincerity () — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Empathy () — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Cooperation () — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Optimism () — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Social Orientation () — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Cautiousness () — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Attention to Detail () — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Integrity () — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Stress Tolerance () — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
  Self-Control () — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Innovation (imp:-0.10) — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 

--- TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ---
  Coordination (imp:3.00 lvl:2.50) — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  Service Orientation (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — Actively looking for ways to help people.
  Judgment and Decision Making (imp:3.00 lvl:2.12) — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the m
  Social Perceptiveness (imp:2.75 lvl:2.25) — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  Complex Problem Solving (imp:2.62 lvl:2.25) — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and ev
  Time Management (imp:2.50 lvl:2.00) — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  Instructing (imp:2.12 lvl:2.00) — Teaching others how to do something.
  Systems Analysis (imp:2.12 lvl:1.75) — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, 
  Systems Evaluation (imp:2.12 lvl:1.62) — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed 
  Negotiation (imp:2.00 lvl:1.62) — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  Quality Control Analysis (imp:2.00 lvl:1.50) — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate
  Management of Personnel Resources (imp:2.00 lvl:1.75) — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best 
  Persuasion (imp:1.88 lvl:1.75) — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  Operations Monitoring (imp:1.88 lvl:1.38) — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working pr
  Troubleshooting (imp:1.88 lvl:1.25) — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  Management of Financial Resources (imp:1.75 lvl:0.75) — Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for the
  Management of Material Resources (imp:1.75 lvl:0.88) — Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materi
  Technology Design (imp:1.62 lvl:0.62) — Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
  Equipment Selection (imp:1.62 lvl:0.62) — Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  Operation and Control (imp:1.62 lvl:0.75) — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  Equipment Maintenance (imp:1.50 lvl:0.50) — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind o
  Programming (imp:1.25 lvl:0.25) — Writing computer programs for various purposes.
  Repairing (imp:1.25 lvl:0.25) — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  Installation (imp:1.12 lvl:0.12) — Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
  Operations Analysis (imp:1.00) — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

--- NATIONAL WAGES ---
  total_employment : 266,910
  annual_median    : $35,360
  annual_pct10     : $27,250
  annual_pct25     : $29,820
  annual_pct75     : $40,050
  annual_pct90     : $50,060
  annual_mean      : $37,300
  hourly_median    : $17.00

--- GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION ---
  highest_state    : District of Columbia ($44,210)
  lowest_state     : Mississippi ($26,970)
  dispersion_ratio : 1.639x

--- TOP STATES BY WAGE (53 total) ---
  Other Services (except Public Administration) emp:  156,690  median: $  35,160
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:   36,180  median: $  33,350
  Retail Trade                             emp:   32,670  median: $  35,290
  Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation      emp:   18,560  median: $  37,460
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:    8,550  median: $  40,320
  Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting emp:    5,870  median: $  35,950
  Educational Services                     emp:    2,640  median: $  40,700
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:    1,550  median: $  37,080
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp:    1,380  median: $  36,400
  Wholesale Trade                          emp:    1,190  median: $  34,970

--- TOP INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT (13 total) ---
  Other Services (except Public Administration) emp:  156,690  median: $  35,160
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:   36,180  median: $  33,350
  Retail Trade                             emp:   32,670  median: $  35,290
  Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation      emp:   18,560  median: $  37,460
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:    8,550  median: $  40,320
  Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting emp:    5,870  median: $  35,950
  Educational Services                     emp:    2,640  median: $  40,700
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:    1,550  median: $  37,080
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp:    1,380  median: $  36,400
  Wholesale Trade                          emp:    1,190  median: $  34,970

exact_match_status : no_exact_match
matched_title      : N/A
match_score        : 0.0000
wikidata_qid       : N/A
word_count         : 0
wikipedia_url      : N/A
license            : CC BY-SA 4.0
fetched_at         : 2026-06-02T22:09:23.803523Z

--- SEMANTIC NEIGHBORS (5) ---

  Title: United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories (similarity: 0.3582)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Biological_Warfare_Laboratories
  QID: Q7889453
  Extract: The U.S. Army Biological Warfare Laboratories (USBWL) was a suite of research laboratories and pilot plant centers operating at Camp Detrick, Maryland, United States, beginning in 1943 under the control of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Research and Development Command. The USBWL undertook research an

  Title: Animal communication (similarity: 0.5405)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_communication
  QID: Q1434121
  Extract: Animal communication is the transfer of information from one or a group of animals to one or more other animals that affects the current or future behavior of the receivers. Information may be sent intentionally, as in a courtship display, or unintentionally, as in the transfer of scent from the pre

  Title: Singapore Zoo (similarity: 0.2000)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Zoo
  QID: Q2709506
  Extract: The Singapore Zoo, formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens or Mandai Zoo, is a 28 hectares zoo located on the margins of Upper Seletar Reservoir within Singapore's heavily forested central catchment area. It is operated by the Mandai Wildlife Group, which also manages the neighbouring Nig

  Title: Saho people (similarity: 0.2143)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saho_people
  QID: Q264993
  Extract: The Saho are a Cushitic ethnic group who are one of the nine official ethnic groups of Eritrea. A few Saho also live in Ethiopia. They speak Saho as a mother tongue.

  Title: Kshamenk (similarity: 0.2400)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshamenk
  QID: Q5960823
  Extract: Kshamenk was a male orca rescued after a stranding that occurred in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He remained under human care for more than 33 years until his death in December 2025.

model_pass1          : claude-sonnet-4-20250514
model_pass2          : claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
inference_confidence : high
confidence_notes     : Strong confidence based on comprehensive O*NET data including detailed task descriptions, work activities, and skill requirements. BLS wage and employment data provides robust market intelligence foundation.
inferred_at          : 2026-06-03T21:18:31.329826+00:00
tokens_input         : 4,554
tokens_output        : 4,291
cost_usd             : $0.046930
wikipedia_used       : False
wikipedia_title      : None
wikipedia_note       : No direct Wikipedia match found for animal caretakers as an occupation. The closest semantic match was 'Animal communication' which focuses on inter-animal communication rather than caregiving roles.

--- PROSE FIELDS ---

ROLE SUMMARY:
Animal Caretakers feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, and provide care to promote the well-being of pets and non-food animals including dogs, cats, zoo animals, and ornamental fish. They work in kennels, animal shelters, zoos, and other animal care facilities, monitoring animal health and maintaining detailed records. This role combines hands-on animal care with basic administrative responsibilities and requires strong observational skills to detect signs of illness or injury.

DAY IN THE LIFE:
Animal caretakers begin their day by examining and observing animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury, then feed and water animals according to specific schedules and dietary instructions. They mix food, liquid formulas, medications, and supplements according to prescriptions and knowledge of animal nutrition requirements. Throughout the day, they perform grooming duties such as washing, brushing, clipping coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears. They collect and record detailed animal information including weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, and medications given. When necessary, they transfer animals between enclosures to facilitate breeding, birthing, shipping, or exhibit rearrangement, and may provide basic treatment to sick animals or contact veterinarians for more serious medical needs.

WHO THRIVES:
Individuals who excel in animal care roles typically demonstrate strong realistic interests with moderate social tendencies, showing comfort with hands-on physical work combined with genuine concern for animal welfare. They possess excellent observational skills and attention to detail, enabling them to detect subtle changes in animal behavior or health status. Successful animal caretakers are dependable and cooperative team players who can work independently while following detailed care protocols. They have strong customer service orientation when interacting with pet owners or the public, and demonstrate emotional resilience when dealing with sick, injured, or stressed animals. Physical stamina and strength are essential for handling animals, lifting supplies, and performing cleaning tasks throughout long shifts.

CAREER ENTRY:
Most animal caretakers enter the field with a high school diploma or equivalent, which represents 63.5% of workers according to education distribution data. Many positions provide on-the-job training covering animal handling techniques, facility protocols, and basic animal health recognition. Some employers prefer candidates with associate's degrees in animal science or related fields (13.6% of workers), particularly for positions in zoos or research facilities. Prior experience volunteering at animal shelters, veterinary clinics, or pet care facilities can provide valuable background for entry-level positions.

CAREER TRAJECTORY:
Animal caretakers can advance to supervisory roles overseeing animal care operations or specialize in specific animal types or care techniques. Many transition into related roles such as veterinary assistants, animal trainers, or animal control workers, leveraging their hands-on experience with animal behavior and health. Some pursue additional education to become veterinary technicians or animal behaviorists. Emerging responsibilities include training volunteers and facility staff, and specialized roles like scuba diving for aquarium maintenance, indicating growing complexity and specialization within the field.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE:
Animal caretakers earned a median annual wage of $35,360 according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, with employment of 266,910 workers nationwide. The wage range spans from $27,250 at the 10th percentile to $50,060 at the 90th percentile, with significant geographic variation from $26,970 in Mississippi to $44,210 in the District of Columbia (1.64x ratio). Employment is concentrated in Other Services sectors (156,690 workers), Professional and Technical Services (36,180), and Retail Trade (32,670). The role shows steady demand driven by increasing pet ownership, growing awareness of animal welfare, and expansion of zoos and animal entertainment facilities. Job security is enhanced by the essential nature of animal care services and the difficulty of automating hands-on animal care tasks.

AUTOMATION OUTLOOK:
Animal caretakers face low automation risk due to the inherently hands-on nature of animal care that requires human judgment, empathy, and physical dexterity. Critical tasks like examining animals for health issues, providing physical care and grooming, and responding to individual animal behavioral needs cannot be effectively automated. While administrative tasks like record-keeping may become more digitized through technology tools like Microsoft Office software, the core caregiving responsibilities remain fundamentally human-centered.

--- REASONED EDGES ---
  [skill_overlap] Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (31-9096) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both roles share critical animal health monitoring skills and customer service knowledge with similar importance levels.
    data: Customer and Personal Service knowledge (4.2 importance)
    data: Monitoring skills (3.1 importance)
    data: Animal health examination tasks
  [task_similarity] Animal Trainers (39-2011) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both roles involve training animals to perform tasks and require similar animal handling and behavior knowledge.
    data: Train animals to perform certain tasks
    data: Animal behavior understanding
    data: Physical animal handling
  [knowledge_overlap] Animal Control Workers (33-9011) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both require public safety knowledge and animal handling expertise with similar educational requirements.
    data: Public Safety and Security knowledge (2.4 importance)
    data: Job Zone 2 preparation level
    data: Animal handling abilities
  [riasec_cluster] Personal Care Aides (31-1122) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both roles emphasize realistic and social work orientations with strong service focus and physical care responsibilities.
    data: Realistic RIASEC profile (6.17)
    data: Service Orientation transferable skill
    data: Physical care activities
  [transferable_skill] Childcare Workers (39-9011) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both roles require similar monitoring, coordination, and service orientation skills for caring for vulnerable populations.
    data: Monitoring processes and surroundings (3.8 importance)
    data: Coordination transferable skill (3.0)
    data: Dependability work style (2.3)

--- NORMALIZER SIGNALS ---
  match_keywords   : ['animal care', 'animal caretaker', 'animal keeper', 'animal attendant', 'pet care', 'animal feeder', 'animal groomer', 'zoo keeper']
  exclude_keywords : ['veterinarian', 'veterinary technician', 'animal trainer', 'animal breeder', 'animal control']
  title_patterns   : ['Animal Care.*', 'Animal Keeper', '.*Animal Attendant', 'Pet Care.*', '.*Caretaker']
  common_variations: ['animal caregiver', 'animal care specialist', 'animal daycare provider', 'animal nursery worker', 'animal handler', 'pet sitter', 'kennel worker', 'shelter worker']

total_terms    : 40
top_words      : ['animal', 'tendency', 'others', 'animals', 'equipment', 'care', 'principles', 'control', 'physical', 'health', 'needs', 'includes', 'techniques', 'objects', 'activities', 'problems', 'materials', 'ideas', 'services', 'human']
source_layers  : onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference

TERM                    COUNT     FREQ  DOMINANT SOURCE      SOURCE BREAKDOWN
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
animal                     48  0.01684  inference            inference:73%  onet_tasks:12%  wikipedia:8%
tendency                   42  0.01473  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
others                     38  0.01333  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
animals                    30  0.01052  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:37%  inference:30%  dwas:27%
equipment                  29  0.01017  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:79%  onet_tasks:10%  dwas:10%
care                       25  0.00877  inference            inference:48%  dwas:32%  onet_tasks:8%
principles                 16  0.00561  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
control                    14  0.00491  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:86%  wikipedia:7%  inference:7%
physical                   13  0.00456  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:46%  inference:38%  onet_tasks:15%
health                     13  0.00456  dwas                 dwas:38%  inference:38%  onet_tasks:15%
needs                      12  0.00421  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:67%  inference:17%  onet_tasks:8%
includes                   12  0.00421  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
techniques                 12  0.00421  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:83%  inference:17%
objects                    12  0.00421  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
activities                 11  0.00386  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:82%  onet_tasks:9%  dwas:9%
problems                   11  0.00386  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:82%  dwas:18%
materials                  11  0.00386  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:91%  dwas:9%
ideas                      11  0.00386  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
services                   10  0.00351  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:60%  inference:30%  dwas:10%
human                      10  0.00351  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:70%  inference:20%  wikipedia:10%
body                       10  0.00351  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
orientation                10  0.00351  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:90%  inference:10%
behavior                    9  0.00316  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:33%  wikipedia:22%  inference:22%
monitoring                  9  0.00316  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:89%  inference:11%
procedures                  9  0.00316  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:89%  dwas:11%
resources                   9  0.00316  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
production                  9  0.00316  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:89%  wikipedia:11%
quickly                     9  0.00316  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
hands                       9  0.00316  inference            inference:56%  onet_dimensions:44%
performing                  9  0.00316  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:89%  inference:11%
facilities                  9  0.00316  dwas                 dwas:44%  inference:44%  onet_dimensions:11%
detect                      8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:50%  inference:38%  onet_tasks:12%
food                        8  0.00281  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:50%  onet_dimensions:25%  inference:25%
rules                       8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
providing                   8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:88%  inference:12%
standards                   8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
events                      8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
actions                     8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
identifying                 8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
developing                  8  0.00281  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%