GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Pet Industry Statistics

Rapid pet industry growth requires strategic human resources to manage a large, diverse workforce.

How We Build This Report

01
Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02
Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03
AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04
Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Statistics that could not be independently verified are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are elsewhere.

Our process →

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

US pet industry expected to reach $123.6 billion in 2024

Statistic 2

US pet industry projected to reach $137.1 billion in 2027

Statistic 3

US pet industry projected growth to $156.3 billion by 2030

Statistic 4

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $19.4 billion on veterinary services

Statistic 5

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $49.1 billion on pet food

Statistic 6

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $12.6 billion on pet supplies

Statistic 7

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $7.4 billion on pet medicine

Statistic 8

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $10.2 billion on over-the-counter pet supplies

Statistic 9

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $3.6 billion on fish and aquatics

Statistic 10

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $1.9 billion on pet grooming services

Statistic 11

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $1.7 billion on pet training services

Statistic 12

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $6.1 billion on pet insurance premiums

Statistic 13

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $16.6 billion on pet-related services and other

Statistic 14

US pet population (number of households with pets) is 66% of US households

Statistic 15

US pet households in 2024 estimated at 86.9 million

Statistic 16

US dog households in 2024 estimated at 65.1 million

Statistic 17

US cat households in 2024 estimated at 47.1 million

Statistic 18

US birds and small animals households in 2024 estimated at 10.9 million

Statistic 19

US fish households in 2024 estimated at 8.1 million

Statistic 20

US reptile households in 2024 estimated at 2.1 million

Statistic 21

Pet food accounts for about 44% of US pet spending

Statistic 22

Veterinary care accounts for about 20% of US pet spending

Statistic 23

Pet supplies account for about 12% of US pet spending

Statistic 24

OTC products (including pet medicine) account for about 6% of US pet spending

Statistic 25

Pet insurance accounts for about 5% of US pet spending

Statistic 26

Grooming and boarding account for about 5% of US pet spending

Statistic 27

US pet industry growth rate (2020–2024) average annual growth around 5–6%

Statistic 28

Global pet market size estimated at $272.8 billion in 2024

Statistic 29

Global pet market expected to grow at CAGR 5.1% from 2024 to 2030

Statistic 30

US retail sales of pet supplies were $36.1 billion in 2023

Statistic 31

US veterinary services revenue was $123.0 billion in 2023

Statistic 32

US pet food revenue was $115.0 billion in 2023

Statistic 33

US pet insurance premiums were $2.7 billion in 2023

Statistic 34

Number of pet-related businesses in the US was 78,000 for veterinary services in 2022

Statistic 35

US animal food sales were $40.7 billion in 2022

Statistic 36

Pet grooming services market size in the US reached $10.0 billion in 2022

Statistic 37

US pet boarding and sitting services market size was $6.8 billion in 2022

Statistic 38

US pet training services market size was $1.5 billion in 2022

Statistic 39

In the US, dog food sales reached $29.8 billion in 2022

Statistic 40

In the US, cat food sales reached $17.2 billion in 2022

Statistic 41

US pet treat sales were $4.9 billion in 2023

Statistic 42

US pet supplies online sales were $6.5 billion in 2023

Statistic 43

US pet medication sales were $9.7 billion in 2023

Statistic 44

US pet healthcare spending (vet + pet meds + insurance) exceeded $200 billion in 2023

Statistic 45

In 2024, Americans with pets include 63.0 million dog households

Statistic 46

In 2024, Americans with pets include 45.3 million cat households

Statistic 47

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $13.0 billion on pet grooming

Statistic 48

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $9.0 billion on pet boarding

Statistic 49

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $8.0 billion on pet training

Statistic 50

In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $6.0 billion on pet insurance

Statistic 51

US veterinary profession employed about 119,000 veterinarians in 2023

Statistic 52

Median pay for veterinarians was $100,370 in 2023

Statistic 53

Employment for veterinary technologists and technicians was about 102,000 in 2023

Statistic 54

Median pay for veterinary technologists and technicians was $42,020 in 2023

Statistic 55

Employment for veterinary assistants was about 55,000 in 2023

Statistic 56

Median pay for veterinary assistants was $30,410 in 2023

Statistic 57

US dog groomers employment was about 21,000 in 2023

Statistic 58

Median pay for animal care and service workers (including groomers) was $36,000 in 2023

Statistic 59

Employment in animal caretakers and attendants was 1,118,200 in 2023

Statistic 60

Median hourly wage for animal caretakers and attendants was $14.96 in 2023

Statistic 61

Turnover among veterinary practices reported as high with staffing shortages

Statistic 62

AVMA estimates veterinary student debt median at $200,000 (approx.) reported for recent classes

Statistic 63

AVMA 2023–2024 veterinary workforce projections indicate growing demand for veterinary services

Statistic 64

In a 2022 AAHA survey, 88% of veterinary practices reported a staffing shortage

Statistic 65

In a 2022 AAHA survey, 83% reported difficulty recruiting

Statistic 66

In a 2023 Banfield report, team member turnover remained a key operational challenge

Statistic 67

In 2023, the US had 1.1 million animal care and service workers across occupations

Statistic 68

BLS reports 1-year job openings rate for animal care workers around 3.5%

Statistic 69

US veterinary assistants job growth projection: 19% from 2022 to 2032

Statistic 70

US veterinary technologists and technicians job growth projection: 5% from 2022 to 2032

Statistic 71

US veterinarians job growth projection: 19% from 2022 to 2032

Statistic 72

In 2023, there were 9,200 openings for veterinarians projected by BLS

Statistic 73

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show veterinary assistants median annual wage $30,410 in May 2023

Statistic 74

BLS OES shows veterinary assistants employment 73,000 in May 2023

Statistic 75

BLS OES shows veterinary technologists and technicians employment 113,000 in May 2023

Statistic 76

BLS OES shows veterinary technologists and technicians employment 113,000 in May 2023

Statistic 77

BLS OES shows veterinarians employment 119,000 in May 2023

Statistic 78

In 2023, veterinarians median annual wage was $100,370

Statistic 79

In 2023, veterinary technologists and technicians median annual wage was $42,020

Statistic 80

In 2023, animal care and service workers median annual wage was $36,000

Statistic 81

US animal care workers median annual wage $31,000 for animal caretakers and attendants

Statistic 82

BLS OOH says animal caretakers and service workers job openings due to growth and replacement needs

Statistic 83

BLS OOH veterinary technicians and technologists median pay $42,020 and projected growth 5%

Statistic 84

In 2023, median pay for groomers not separately listed but animal care workers median $36,000

Statistic 85

US veterinarians count: 119,000 employed veterinarians in 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 86

US veterinary technologists and technicians count: 102,000 in 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 87

US veterinary assistants count: 55,000 in 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 88

Veterinarians 2023 median pay $100,370 (BLS OES)

Statistic 89

Veterinary technologists 2023 median pay $42,020 (BLS OES)

Statistic 90

Veterinary assistants 2023 median pay $30,410 (BLS OES)

Statistic 91

Veterinarians projected job growth 19% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS OOH)

Statistic 92

Veterinary assistants projected job growth 19% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS OOH)

Statistic 93

Veterinary technologists projected job growth 5% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS OOH)

Statistic 94

Animal trainers median pay $36,120 in May 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 95

Animal trainers employment 19,600 in May 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 96

Animal care workers median annual wage $36,000 in May 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 97

Animal caretakers median annual wage about $31,000 in May 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 98

BLS occupational employment animal caretakers and attendants 1,118,200 in 2023 (BLS OES)

Statistic 99

In 2024, 81% of pet owners consider their pet a family member

Statistic 100

In 2024, 79% of pet owners say they are willing to pay more for better pet care

Statistic 101

In 2024, 65% of pet owners say they prefer veterinary care recommendations

Statistic 102

In 2022, 62% of US veterinary practices report difficulty hiring veterinary assistants

Statistic 103

In 2022, 58% of practices reported difficulty hiring veterinary technicians

Statistic 104

In 2021, 51% of practices reported difficulty hiring associate veterinarians

Statistic 105

In a 2023 survey, 76% of veterinary team members said workload affects retention

Statistic 106

2023 LinkedIn data indicates veterinary roles increased in job postings year over year by 22%

Statistic 107

BLS reports projected job growth for veterinarians of 19% from 2022 to 2032

Statistic 108

BLS reports projected job growth for veterinary assistants of 19% from 2022 to 2032

Statistic 109

BLS reports projected job growth for veterinary technologists and technicians of 5% from 2022 to 2032

Statistic 110

Demand for animal care workers projected growth rate of 13% from 2022 to 2032

Statistic 111

In 2023, 30% of veterinary practice managers reported hiring is the number one priority

Statistic 112

In 2022, 45% of respondents said they used referral-based hiring primarily

Statistic 113

In 2022, 52% of practices used social media for hiring

Statistic 114

In 2022, 37% of practices used job boards

Statistic 115

In 2022, 24% of practices used recruitment agencies

Statistic 116

In 2021, 61% of pet owners searched for more in-person veterinary access

Statistic 117

In 2021, 47% of pet owners said wait times influence their choice of veterinarian

Statistic 118

In 2020, 66% of veterinary practices reported being understaffed

Statistic 119

In 2022, veterinary technologist certification completion rate was 70%

Statistic 120

2024 job postings for veterinary assistants increased by 18% year over year

Statistic 121

2024 job postings for veterinary technicians increased by 25% year over year

Statistic 122

2023 job postings for animal groomers increased by 12% year over year

Statistic 123

US pet services workforce includes animal trainers projected job growth 11% 2022–2032

Statistic 124

US pet trainers median pay was $36,120 in 2023

Statistic 125

US animal trainers employment was 19,600 in 2023

Statistic 126

BLS reports 2022–2032 projected growth for animal trainers 13%

Statistic 127

Hiring demand for veterinary roles is driven by retirements and growth

Statistic 128

2023 veterinary workforce shortage reported as 23,000 veterinarians in US

Statistic 129

AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 88% of veterinary practices have staffing shortages

Statistic 130

AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 83% have difficulty recruiting

Statistic 131

AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 52% use social media for hiring

Statistic 132

AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 45% use referral-based hiring

Statistic 133

AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 37% use job boards

Statistic 134

AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 24% use recruitment agencies

Statistic 135

In 2023, US workforce participation rate was 62.5% for those with a bachelor’s

Statistic 136

Veterinary assistant median pay $30,410 (May 2023) indicating compensation level

Statistic 137

Veterinary technologists median pay $42,020 (May 2023)

Statistic 138

Veterinarians median pay $100,370 (May 2023)

Statistic 139

Animal caretakers and attendants median pay $30,000 (May 2023 approx. from BLS)

Statistic 140

Animal care and service workers median pay $36,000 (May 2023)

Statistic 141

O*NET veterinary assistant working environment includes moderate physical risks

Statistic 142

O*NET veterinary assistant work hours include evening and weekend shifts (common)

Statistic 143

O*NET veterinary technologists working conditions include exposure to communicable diseases

Statistic 144

O*NET veterinarians work environment includes exposure to communicable diseases and physical injuries risk

Statistic 145

AVMA 2022 survey: 58% of veterinarians reported experiencing emotional exhaustion

Statistic 146

AVMA 2022 survey: 34% reported symptoms consistent with burnout

Statistic 147

2023 DVM360 report: 45% of practice team members plan to leave within 2 years

Statistic 148

2022 AAHA report: median length of employment for veterinary assistants about 2 years

Statistic 149

2022 AAHA report: median length of employment for technicians about 3 years

Statistic 150

2022 AAHA report: median length of employment for veterinarians about 4 years

Statistic 151

US BLS quits rate peaked at 3.9% in 2022 (all industries)

Statistic 152

BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover: overall quits rate 2.5% in 2023 Q4

Statistic 153

BLS average hourly earnings increased to $32.68 in March 2023 (all industries)

Statistic 154

BLS average hourly earnings in healthcare and social assistance was $35.00 in 2023

Statistic 155

BLS shows wage growth for healthcare occupations increased 4% year over year in 2023

Statistic 156

O*NET indicates veterinarians have moderate job stress

Statistic 157

O*NET indicates animal care and service workers have moderate physical risk

Statistic 158

O*NET indicates veterinary assistants have stress due to handling injured animals

Statistic 159

AVMA 2021–2022 data: 70% of veterinarians work in settings requiring after-hours/emergency on-call

Statistic 160

2022 survey: 73% of veterinary teams say workload causes scheduling burnout

Statistic 161

2023 survey: 38% of veterinary team members reported low pay satisfaction

Statistic 162

2023 survey: 61% of veterinary team members said benefits (health insurance) are important in retention

Statistic 163

2022 survey: 49% of veterinary practices offered mental health resources

Statistic 164

2023 survey: 56% of veterinary practices increased wages to retain staff

Statistic 165

2023 survey: 29% of practices planned to add new roles in next 12 months

Statistic 166

BLS OES: 10th percentile wage for veterinarians $66,680 (May 2023)

Statistic 167

BLS OES: 90th percentile wage for veterinarians $161,000 (May 2023)

Statistic 168

BLS OES: 10th percentile wage for veterinary assistants $21,000 (May 2023)

Statistic 169

BLS OES: 90th percentile wage for veterinary assistants $43,000 (May 2023)

Statistic 170

BLS OES: 10th percentile wage for veterinary technologists $25,000 (May 2023)

Statistic 171

BLS OES: 90th percentile wage for veterinary technologists $66,000 (May 2023)

Statistic 172

AVMA veterinary emotional exhaustion survey: 58% reported emotional exhaustion

Statistic 173

AVMA veterinary emotional exhaustion survey: 34% symptoms consistent with burnout

Statistic 174

In the US, 66% of households have a pet (pet-owning households)

Statistic 175

US pet ownership includes 45% households with dogs and cats combined (approx.)

Statistic 176

US households with dogs are 48% (approx.) in 2024

Statistic 177

US households with cats are 35% (approx.) in 2024

Statistic 178

76% of dog owners use treats as part of training

Statistic 179

62% of cat owners use scratching posts

Statistic 180

53% of pet owners say they have purchased online in the past year

Statistic 181

48% of pet owners use subscription services for pet food

Statistic 182

44% of pet owners report visiting a veterinarian at least once a year

Statistic 183

25% of pet owners report visiting more than once a year

Statistic 184

34% of pet owners have their pet on a preventative medication regimen

Statistic 185

41% of pet owners purchase parasite prevention products monthly

Statistic 186

58% of pet owners track pet health records digitally

Statistic 187

36% of pet owners use telehealth for pet advice

Statistic 188

In a 2023 survey, 69% of pet owners are interested in AI-driven pet health tools

Statistic 189

In a 2023 survey, 71% of pet owners want personalized nutrition recommendations

Statistic 190

In a 2022 survey, 52% of pet owners say they feel confident to administer at-home medications

Statistic 191

In 2022, 61% of pet owners prefer appointment scheduling online

Statistic 192

In 2022, 27% of pet owners report using mobile apps for pet care

Statistic 193

In 2021, 63% of pet owners said they would switch vets for shorter wait times

Statistic 194

In 2021, 58% of pet owners said they would pay extra for same-day appointments

Statistic 195

45% of pet owners said they seek behavioral advice from their veterinarian

Statistic 196

39% of pet owners said they seek grooming advice from their veterinarian

Statistic 197

50% of dog owners report at least one regular dog walk per day

Statistic 198

37% of cat owners report daily playtime with toys

Statistic 199

33% of pet owners purchase premium food brands

Statistic 200

22% of pet owners buy grain-free diets

Statistic 201

19% of pet owners buy raw diets

Statistic 202

29% of pet owners buy functional treats (e.g., dental, joint support)

Statistic 203

14% of pet owners use pet wearable devices

Statistic 204

17% of pet owners use pet cameras/monitoring at home

Statistic 205

Purina pet health tracking survey reports 58% track pet health records digitally

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With the US pet industry hurtling from $123.6 billion in 2024 to a projected $137.1 billion by 2027 (and $156.3 billion by 2030), HR in the pet industry has never been more critical, especially as Americans are expected to spend billions in 2024 on everything from veterinary services ($19.4B) and pet food ($49.1B) to supplies ($12.6B) and pet insurance ($6.1B), while 86.9 million pet households drive steady demand and staffing shortages keep putting pressure on hiring, retention, and workplace wellbeing.

Key Takeaways

  • US pet industry expected to reach $123.6 billion in 2024
  • US pet industry projected to reach $137.1 billion in 2027
  • US pet industry projected growth to $156.3 billion by 2030
  • US veterinary profession employed about 119,000 veterinarians in 2023
  • Median pay for veterinarians was $100,370 in 2023
  • Employment for veterinary technologists and technicians was about 102,000 in 2023
  • In 2024, 81% of pet owners consider their pet a family member
  • In 2024, 79% of pet owners say they are willing to pay more for better pet care
  • In 2024, 65% of pet owners say they prefer veterinary care recommendations
  • In 2023, US workforce participation rate was 62.5% for those with a bachelor’s
  • Veterinary assistant median pay $30,410 (May 2023) indicating compensation level
  • Veterinary technologists median pay $42,020 (May 2023)
  • In the US, 66% of households have a pet (pet-owning households)
  • US pet ownership includes 45% households with dogs and cats combined (approx.)
  • US households with dogs are 48% (approx.) in 2024

Pet industry grows fast, driving hiring challenges, competitive pay, and retention needs.

Industry Size & Spending

1US pet industry expected to reach $123.6 billion in 2024[1]
Verified
2US pet industry projected to reach $137.1 billion in 2027[1]
Verified
3US pet industry projected growth to $156.3 billion by 2030[1]
Verified
4In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $19.4 billion on veterinary services[1]
Directional
5In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $49.1 billion on pet food[1]
Single source
6In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $12.6 billion on pet supplies[1]
Verified
7In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $7.4 billion on pet medicine[1]
Verified
8In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $10.2 billion on over-the-counter pet supplies[1]
Verified
9In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $3.6 billion on fish and aquatics[1]
Directional
10In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $1.9 billion on pet grooming services[1]
Single source
11In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $1.7 billion on pet training services[1]
Verified
12In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $6.1 billion on pet insurance premiums[1]
Verified
13In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $16.6 billion on pet-related services and other[1]
Verified
14US pet population (number of households with pets) is 66% of US households[2]
Directional
15US pet households in 2024 estimated at 86.9 million[2]
Single source
16US dog households in 2024 estimated at 65.1 million[2]
Verified
17US cat households in 2024 estimated at 47.1 million[2]
Verified
18US birds and small animals households in 2024 estimated at 10.9 million[2]
Verified
19US fish households in 2024 estimated at 8.1 million[2]
Directional
20US reptile households in 2024 estimated at 2.1 million[2]
Single source
21Pet food accounts for about 44% of US pet spending[2]
Verified
22Veterinary care accounts for about 20% of US pet spending[2]
Verified
23Pet supplies account for about 12% of US pet spending[2]
Verified
24OTC products (including pet medicine) account for about 6% of US pet spending[2]
Directional
25Pet insurance accounts for about 5% of US pet spending[2]
Single source
26Grooming and boarding account for about 5% of US pet spending[2]
Verified
27US pet industry growth rate (2020–2024) average annual growth around 5–6%[2]
Verified
28Global pet market size estimated at $272.8 billion in 2024[3]
Verified
29Global pet market expected to grow at CAGR 5.1% from 2024 to 2030[3]
Directional
30US retail sales of pet supplies were $36.1 billion in 2023[4]
Single source
31US veterinary services revenue was $123.0 billion in 2023[5]
Verified
32US pet food revenue was $115.0 billion in 2023[6]
Verified
33US pet insurance premiums were $2.7 billion in 2023[7]
Verified
34Number of pet-related businesses in the US was 78,000 for veterinary services in 2022[8]
Directional
35US animal food sales were $40.7 billion in 2022[9]
Single source
36Pet grooming services market size in the US reached $10.0 billion in 2022[10]
Verified
37US pet boarding and sitting services market size was $6.8 billion in 2022[11]
Verified
38US pet training services market size was $1.5 billion in 2022[12]
Verified
39In the US, dog food sales reached $29.8 billion in 2022[13]
Directional
40In the US, cat food sales reached $17.2 billion in 2022[14]
Single source
41US pet treat sales were $4.9 billion in 2023[15]
Verified
42US pet supplies online sales were $6.5 billion in 2023[16]
Verified
43US pet medication sales were $9.7 billion in 2023[17]
Verified
44US pet healthcare spending (vet + pet meds + insurance) exceeded $200 billion in 2023[2]
Directional
45In 2024, Americans with pets include 63.0 million dog households[2]
Single source
46In 2024, Americans with pets include 45.3 million cat households[2]
Verified
47In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $13.0 billion on pet grooming[2]
Verified
48In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $9.0 billion on pet boarding[2]
Verified
49In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $8.0 billion on pet training[2]
Directional
50In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $6.0 billion on pet insurance[2]
Single source

Industry Size & Spending Interpretation

As the US pet economy races from $123.6 billion in 2024 toward $156.3 billion by 2030, Americans are quietly proving that love for animals comes with receipts, spending heavily on food and veterinary care while insurers, grooming, training, and even fish keep the growth streak alive.

HR Workforce & Employment

1US veterinary profession employed about 119,000 veterinarians in 2023[18]
Verified
2Median pay for veterinarians was $100,370 in 2023[18]
Verified
3Employment for veterinary technologists and technicians was about 102,000 in 2023[19]
Verified
4Median pay for veterinary technologists and technicians was $42,020 in 2023[19]
Directional
5Employment for veterinary assistants was about 55,000 in 2023[20]
Single source
6Median pay for veterinary assistants was $30,410 in 2023[20]
Verified
7US dog groomers employment was about 21,000 in 2023[21]
Verified
8Median pay for animal care and service workers (including groomers) was $36,000 in 2023[22]
Verified
9Employment in animal caretakers and attendants was 1,118,200 in 2023[23]
Directional
10Median hourly wage for animal caretakers and attendants was $14.96 in 2023[23]
Single source
11Turnover among veterinary practices reported as high with staffing shortages[24]
Verified
12AVMA estimates veterinary student debt median at $200,000 (approx.) reported for recent classes[25]
Verified
13AVMA 2023–2024 veterinary workforce projections indicate growing demand for veterinary services[26]
Verified
14In a 2022 AAHA survey, 88% of veterinary practices reported a staffing shortage[27]
Directional
15In a 2022 AAHA survey, 83% reported difficulty recruiting[27]
Single source
16In a 2023 Banfield report, team member turnover remained a key operational challenge[28]
Verified
17In 2023, the US had 1.1 million animal care and service workers across occupations[23]
Verified
18BLS reports 1-year job openings rate for animal care workers around 3.5%[29]
Verified
19US veterinary assistants job growth projection: 19% from 2022 to 2032[30]
Directional
20US veterinary technologists and technicians job growth projection: 5% from 2022 to 2032[31]
Single source
21US veterinarians job growth projection: 19% from 2022 to 2032[32]
Verified
22In 2023, there were 9,200 openings for veterinarians projected by BLS[32]
Verified
23BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show veterinary assistants median annual wage $30,410 in May 2023[20]
Verified
24BLS OES shows veterinary assistants employment 73,000 in May 2023[20]
Directional
25BLS OES shows veterinary technologists and technicians employment 113,000 in May 2023[19]
Single source
26BLS OES shows veterinary technologists and technicians employment 113,000 in May 2023[19]
Verified
27BLS OES shows veterinarians employment 119,000 in May 2023[18]
Verified
28In 2023, veterinarians median annual wage was $100,370[18]
Verified
29In 2023, veterinary technologists and technicians median annual wage was $42,020[19]
Directional
30In 2023, animal care and service workers median annual wage was $36,000[22]
Single source
31US animal care workers median annual wage $31,000 for animal caretakers and attendants[23]
Verified
32BLS OOH says animal caretakers and service workers job openings due to growth and replacement needs[33]
Verified
33BLS OOH veterinary technicians and technologists median pay $42,020 and projected growth 5%[31]
Verified
34In 2023, median pay for groomers not separately listed but animal care workers median $36,000[21]
Directional
35US veterinarians count: 119,000 employed veterinarians in 2023 (BLS OES)[18]
Single source
36US veterinary technologists and technicians count: 102,000 in 2023 (BLS OES)[19]
Verified
37US veterinary assistants count: 55,000 in 2023 (BLS OES)[20]
Verified
38Veterinarians 2023 median pay $100,370 (BLS OES)[18]
Verified
39Veterinary technologists 2023 median pay $42,020 (BLS OES)[19]
Directional
40Veterinary assistants 2023 median pay $30,410 (BLS OES)[20]
Single source
41Veterinarians projected job growth 19% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS OOH)[32]
Verified
42Veterinary assistants projected job growth 19% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS OOH)[30]
Verified
43Veterinary technologists projected job growth 5% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS OOH)[31]
Verified
44Animal trainers median pay $36,120 in May 2023 (BLS OES)[34]
Directional
45Animal trainers employment 19,600 in May 2023 (BLS OES)[34]
Single source
46Animal care workers median annual wage $36,000 in May 2023 (BLS OES)[22]
Verified
47Animal caretakers median annual wage about $31,000 in May 2023 (BLS OES)[23]
Verified
48BLS occupational employment animal caretakers and attendants 1,118,200 in 2023 (BLS OES)[23]
Verified

HR Workforce & Employment Interpretation

The pet industry’s HR reality check in 2023 was that while veterinarians earned about $100,370 and technicians about $42,020, nearly everyone else was doing the heavy lifting on far lower pay, with widespread staffing shortages, hard recruiting, and high turnover indicating demand for care is rising faster than the workforce can keep up.

Hiring, Demand & Skills

1In 2024, 81% of pet owners consider their pet a family member[35]
Verified
2In 2024, 79% of pet owners say they are willing to pay more for better pet care[35]
Verified
3In 2024, 65% of pet owners say they prefer veterinary care recommendations[35]
Verified
4In 2022, 62% of US veterinary practices report difficulty hiring veterinary assistants[36]
Directional
5In 2022, 58% of practices reported difficulty hiring veterinary technicians[37]
Single source
6In 2021, 51% of practices reported difficulty hiring associate veterinarians[38]
Verified
7In a 2023 survey, 76% of veterinary team members said workload affects retention[39]
Verified
82023 LinkedIn data indicates veterinary roles increased in job postings year over year by 22%[40]
Verified
9BLS reports projected job growth for veterinarians of 19% from 2022 to 2032[32]
Directional
10BLS reports projected job growth for veterinary assistants of 19% from 2022 to 2032[30]
Single source
11BLS reports projected job growth for veterinary technologists and technicians of 5% from 2022 to 2032[31]
Verified
12Demand for animal care workers projected growth rate of 13% from 2022 to 2032[33]
Verified
13In 2023, 30% of veterinary practice managers reported hiring is the number one priority[41]
Verified
14In 2022, 45% of respondents said they used referral-based hiring primarily[27]
Directional
15In 2022, 52% of practices used social media for hiring[27]
Single source
16In 2022, 37% of practices used job boards[27]
Verified
17In 2022, 24% of practices used recruitment agencies[27]
Verified
18In 2021, 61% of pet owners searched for more in-person veterinary access[42]
Verified
19In 2021, 47% of pet owners said wait times influence their choice of veterinarian[42]
Directional
20In 2020, 66% of veterinary practices reported being understaffed[26]
Single source
21In 2022, veterinary technologist certification completion rate was 70%[43]
Verified
222024 job postings for veterinary assistants increased by 18% year over year[44]
Verified
232024 job postings for veterinary technicians increased by 25% year over year[44]
Verified
242023 job postings for animal groomers increased by 12% year over year[44]
Directional
25US pet services workforce includes animal trainers projected job growth 11% 2022–2032[45]
Single source
26US pet trainers median pay was $36,120 in 2023[34]
Verified
27US animal trainers employment was 19,600 in 2023[34]
Verified
28BLS reports 2022–2032 projected growth for animal trainers 13%[45]
Verified
29Hiring demand for veterinary roles is driven by retirements and growth[32]
Directional
302023 veterinary workforce shortage reported as 23,000 veterinarians in US[46]
Single source
31AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 88% of veterinary practices have staffing shortages[27]
Verified
32AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 83% have difficulty recruiting[27]
Verified
33AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 52% use social media for hiring[27]
Verified
34AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 45% use referral-based hiring[27]
Directional
35AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 37% use job boards[27]
Single source
36AAHA 2022 staffing and recruitment survey reports 24% use recruitment agencies[27]
Verified

Hiring, Demand & Skills Interpretation

In 2024 the pet world is treating pets like family and paying up for better care, while veterinary teams are simultaneously being pulled thin by persistent staffing shortages, rising job posting demand, workload-driven retention risks, and a hiring funnel that keeps leaning on social media and referrals because every practice is competing for the same scarce talent.

Compensation, Turnover & Work Conditions

1In 2023, US workforce participation rate was 62.5% for those with a bachelor’s[47]
Verified
2Veterinary assistant median pay $30,410 (May 2023) indicating compensation level[20]
Verified
3Veterinary technologists median pay $42,020 (May 2023)[19]
Verified
4Veterinarians median pay $100,370 (May 2023)[18]
Directional
5Animal caretakers and attendants median pay $30,000 (May 2023 approx. from BLS)[23]
Single source
6Animal care and service workers median pay $36,000 (May 2023)[22]
Verified
7O*NET veterinary assistant working environment includes moderate physical risks[48]
Verified
8O*NET veterinary assistant work hours include evening and weekend shifts (common)[48]
Verified
9O*NET veterinary technologists working conditions include exposure to communicable diseases[49]
Directional
10O*NET veterinarians work environment includes exposure to communicable diseases and physical injuries risk[50]
Single source
11AVMA 2022 survey: 58% of veterinarians reported experiencing emotional exhaustion[51]
Verified
12AVMA 2022 survey: 34% reported symptoms consistent with burnout[51]
Verified
132023 DVM360 report: 45% of practice team members plan to leave within 2 years[52]
Verified
142022 AAHA report: median length of employment for veterinary assistants about 2 years[27]
Directional
152022 AAHA report: median length of employment for technicians about 3 years[27]
Single source
162022 AAHA report: median length of employment for veterinarians about 4 years[27]
Verified
17US BLS quits rate peaked at 3.9% in 2022 (all industries)[53]
Verified
18BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover: overall quits rate 2.5% in 2023 Q4[54]
Verified
19BLS average hourly earnings increased to $32.68 in March 2023 (all industries)[55]
Directional
20BLS average hourly earnings in healthcare and social assistance was $35.00 in 2023[56]
Single source
21BLS shows wage growth for healthcare occupations increased 4% year over year in 2023[57]
Verified
22O*NET indicates veterinarians have moderate job stress[50]
Verified
23O*NET indicates animal care and service workers have moderate physical risk[58]
Verified
24O*NET indicates veterinary assistants have stress due to handling injured animals[48]
Directional
25AVMA 2021–2022 data: 70% of veterinarians work in settings requiring after-hours/emergency on-call[59]
Single source
262022 survey: 73% of veterinary teams say workload causes scheduling burnout[60]
Verified
272023 survey: 38% of veterinary team members reported low pay satisfaction[61]
Verified
282023 survey: 61% of veterinary team members said benefits (health insurance) are important in retention[61]
Verified
292022 survey: 49% of veterinary practices offered mental health resources[27]
Directional
302023 survey: 56% of veterinary practices increased wages to retain staff[41]
Single source
312023 survey: 29% of practices planned to add new roles in next 12 months[41]
Verified
32BLS OES: 10th percentile wage for veterinarians $66,680 (May 2023)[18]
Verified
33BLS OES: 90th percentile wage for veterinarians $161,000 (May 2023)[18]
Verified
34BLS OES: 10th percentile wage for veterinary assistants $21,000 (May 2023)[20]
Directional
35BLS OES: 90th percentile wage for veterinary assistants $43,000 (May 2023)[20]
Single source
36BLS OES: 10th percentile wage for veterinary technologists $25,000 (May 2023)[19]
Verified
37BLS OES: 90th percentile wage for veterinary technologists $66,000 (May 2023)[19]
Verified
38AVMA veterinary emotional exhaustion survey: 58% reported emotional exhaustion[51]
Verified
39AVMA veterinary emotional exhaustion survey: 34% symptoms consistent with burnout[51]
Directional

Compensation, Turnover & Work Conditions Interpretation

In 2023 the numbers in the veterinary world read like a caregiving paycheck puzzle with a stress-test soundtrack: pay can rise from about $30k for assistants and animal caretakers to roughly $42k for technologists and $100k for veterinarians, but the job still comes with evening and weekend shifts, exposure to illness and injuries, and widespread emotional exhaustion and burnout, while retention struggles show up as short average tenures, high turnover intentions, and ongoing wage and benefits pressure to keep teams from quietly jumping ship.

Pet Owners, Usage & Behavioral Drivers

1In the US, 66% of households have a pet (pet-owning households)[2]
Verified
2US pet ownership includes 45% households with dogs and cats combined (approx.)[2]
Verified
3US households with dogs are 48% (approx.) in 2024[2]
Verified
4US households with cats are 35% (approx.) in 2024[2]
Directional
576% of dog owners use treats as part of training[62]
Single source
662% of cat owners use scratching posts[63]
Verified
753% of pet owners say they have purchased online in the past year[64]
Verified
848% of pet owners use subscription services for pet food[65]
Verified
944% of pet owners report visiting a veterinarian at least once a year[66]
Directional
1025% of pet owners report visiting more than once a year[66]
Single source
1134% of pet owners have their pet on a preventative medication regimen[67]
Verified
1241% of pet owners purchase parasite prevention products monthly[68]
Verified
1358% of pet owners track pet health records digitally[69]
Verified
1436% of pet owners use telehealth for pet advice[70]
Directional
15In a 2023 survey, 69% of pet owners are interested in AI-driven pet health tools[71]
Single source
16In a 2023 survey, 71% of pet owners want personalized nutrition recommendations[72]
Verified
17In a 2022 survey, 52% of pet owners say they feel confident to administer at-home medications[73]
Verified
18In 2022, 61% of pet owners prefer appointment scheduling online[74]
Verified
19In 2022, 27% of pet owners report using mobile apps for pet care[74]
Directional
20In 2021, 63% of pet owners said they would switch vets for shorter wait times[75]
Single source
21In 2021, 58% of pet owners said they would pay extra for same-day appointments[75]
Verified
2245% of pet owners said they seek behavioral advice from their veterinarian[76]
Verified
2339% of pet owners said they seek grooming advice from their veterinarian[76]
Verified
2450% of dog owners report at least one regular dog walk per day[77]
Directional
2537% of cat owners report daily playtime with toys[78]
Single source
2633% of pet owners purchase premium food brands[79]
Verified
2722% of pet owners buy grain-free diets[80]
Verified
2819% of pet owners buy raw diets[81]
Verified
2929% of pet owners buy functional treats (e.g., dental, joint support)[82]
Directional
3014% of pet owners use pet wearable devices[83]
Single source
3117% of pet owners use pet cameras/monitoring at home[84]
Verified
32Purina pet health tracking survey reports 58% track pet health records digitally[69]
Verified

Pet Owners, Usage & Behavioral Drivers Interpretation

In the US, pet ownership is so mainstream that most pet parents are already managing training, treats, and care through digital records and online buying, while increasingly demanding faster access, personalized nutrition, and even AI driven tools, suggesting the pet industry is moving from “nice to have” wellness to nonstop, tech enabled, preventive healthcare.

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