The U.S. pet industry is poised for major growth, expected to reach $123.6 billion in 2024 and $137.1 billion by 2027. As veterinary services are projected to reach $19.4 billion in 2024, demand for trained teams—from veterinarians to veterinary assistants and technologists—rises. This helps explain why staffing remains a central HR challenge across the pet care workforce.
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
US pet and veterinary spending is rising, but hiring veterinary assistants remains difficult.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Size & Spending30 stats
01
US pet industry expected to reach $123.6 billion in 2024[1]
02
US pet industry projected to reach $137.1 billion in 2027[1]
03
US pet industry projected growth to $156.3 billion by 2030[1]
04
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $19.4 billion on veterinary services[1]
05
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $49.1 billion on pet food[1]
06
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $12.6 billion on pet supplies[1]
07
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $7.4 billion on pet medicine[1]
08
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $10.2 billion on over-the-counter pet supplies[1]
09
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $3.6 billion on fish and aquatics[1]
10
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $1.9 billion on pet grooming services[1]
11
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $1.7 billion on pet training services[1]
12
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $6.1 billion on pet insurance premiums[1]
13
In 2024, Americans are expected to spend $16.6 billion on pet-related services and other[1]
14
US pet population (number of households with pets) is 66% of US households[2]
15
US pet households in 2024 estimated at 86.9 million[2]
16
US dog households in 2024 estimated at 65.1 million[2]
17
US cat households in 2024 estimated at 47.1 million[2]
18
US birds and small animals households in 2024 estimated at 10.9 million[2]
19
US fish households in 2024 estimated at 8.1 million[2]
20
US reptile households in 2024 estimated at 2.1 million[2]
21
Pet food accounts for about 44% of US pet spending[2]
22
Veterinary care accounts for about 20% of US pet spending[2]
23
Pet supplies account for about 12% of US pet spending[2]
24
OTC products (including pet medicine) account for about 6% of US pet spending[2]
25
Pet insurance accounts for about 5% of US pet spending[2]
26
Grooming and boarding account for about 5% of US pet spending[2]
27
US pet industry growth rate (2020–2024) average annual growth around 5–6%[2]
28
Global pet market size estimated at $272.8 billion in 2024[3]
29
Global pet market expected to grow at CAGR 5.1% from 2024 to 2030[3]
30
US retail sales of pet supplies were $36.1 billion in 2023[4]
Interpretation
Industry Size & Spending Interpretation
For the Industry Size & Spending angle, the US pet industry is set to grow from $123.6 billion in 2024 to $137.1 billion by 2027 and $156.3 billion by 2030, with Americans in 2024 expected to spend $19.4 billion on veterinary services, $49.1 billion on pet food, and $12.6 billion on pet supplies, showing that consumer and health related spend are major drivers of expansion.
02 · Category
Hr Workforce & Employment30 stats
01
US veterinary profession employed about 119,000 veterinarians in 2023[5]
02
Median pay for veterinarians was $100,370 in 2023[5]
03
Employment for veterinary technologists and technicians was about 102,000 in 2023[5]
04
Median pay for veterinary technologists and technicians was $42,020 in 2023[5]
05
Employment for veterinary assistants was about 55,000 in 2023[5]
06
Median pay for veterinary assistants was $30,410 in 2023[5]
07
US dog groomers employment was about 21,000 in 2023[5]
08
Median pay for animal care and service workers (including groomers) was $36,000 in 2023[5]
09
Employment in animal caretakers and attendants was 1,118,200 in 2023[5]
10
Median hourly wage for animal caretakers and attendants was $14.96 in 2023[5]
11
Turnover among veterinary practices reported as high with staffing shortages[6]
12
AVMA estimates veterinary student debt median at $200,000 (approx.) reported for recent classes[6]
13
AVMA 2023–2024 veterinary workforce projections indicate growing demand for veterinary services[6]
14
In a 2022 AAHA survey, 88% of veterinary practices reported a staffing shortage[7]
15
In a 2022 AAHA survey, 83% reported difficulty recruiting[7]
16
In a 2023 Banfield report, team member turnover remained a key operational challenge[8]
17
In 2023, the US had 1.1 million animal care and service workers across occupations[5]
18
BLS reports 1-year job openings rate for animal care workers around 3.5%[5]
19
US veterinary assistants job growth projection: 19% from 2022 to 2032[5]
20
US veterinary technologists and technicians job growth projection: 5% from 2022 to 2032[5]
21
US veterinarians job growth projection: 19% from 2022 to 2032[5]
22
In 2023, there were 9,200 openings for veterinarians projected by BLS[5]
23
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show veterinary assistants median annual wage $30,410 in May 2023[5]
24
BLS OES shows veterinary assistants employment 73,000 in May 2023[5]
25
BLS OES shows veterinary technologists and technicians employment 113,000 in May 2023[5]
26
BLS OES shows veterinary technologists and technicians employment 113,000 in May 2023[5]
27
BLS OES shows veterinarians employment 119,000 in May 2023[5]
28
In 2023, veterinarians median annual wage was $100,370[5]
29
In 2023, veterinary technologists and technicians median annual wage was $42,020[5]
30
In 2023, animal care and service workers median annual wage was $36,000[5]
Interpretation
Hr Workforce & Employment Interpretation
In the pet industry’s HR Workforce and Employment slice, 2023 showed a workforce ladder with about 119,000 veterinarians earning a median of $100,370 while veterinary technologists and technicians employed around 102,000 with a much lower median pay of $42,020, and veterinary assistants employed about 55,000 with a median of $30,410.
03 · Category
Hiring, Demand & Skills30 stats
01
In 2024, 81% of pet owners consider their pet a family member[9]
02
In 2024, 79% of pet owners say they are willing to pay more for better pet care[9]
03
In 2024, 65% of pet owners say they prefer veterinary care recommendations[9]
04
In 2022, 62% of US veterinary practices report difficulty hiring veterinary assistants[10]
05
In 2022, 58% of practices reported difficulty hiring veterinary technicians[10]
06
In 2021, 51% of practices reported difficulty hiring associate veterinarians[10]
07
In a 2023 survey, 76% of veterinary team members said workload affects retention[11]
08
2023 LinkedIn data indicates veterinary roles increased in job postings year over year by 22%[12]
09
BLS reports projected job growth for veterinarians of 19% from 2022 to 2032[5]
10
BLS reports projected job growth for veterinary assistants of 19% from 2022 to 2032[5]
11
BLS reports projected job growth for veterinary technologists and technicians of 5% from 2022 to 2032[5]
12
Demand for animal care workers projected growth rate of 13% from 2022 to 2032[5]
13
In 2023, 30% of veterinary practice managers reported hiring is the number one priority[7]
14
In 2022, 45% of respondents said they used referral-based hiring primarily[7]
15
In 2022, 52% of practices used social media for hiring[7]
16
In 2022, 37% of practices used job boards[7]
17
In 2022, 24% of practices used recruitment agencies[7]
18
In 2021, 61% of pet owners searched for more in-person veterinary access[13]
19
In 2021, 47% of pet owners said wait times influence their choice of veterinarian[13]
20
In 2020, 66% of veterinary practices reported being understaffed[6]
21
In 2022, veterinary technologist certification completion rate was 70%[14]
22
2024 job postings for veterinary assistants increased by 18% year over year[15]
23
2024 job postings for veterinary technicians increased by 25% year over year[15]
24
2023 job postings for animal groomers increased by 12% year over year[15]
25
US pet services workforce includes animal trainers projected job growth 11% 2022–2032[5]
26
US pet trainers median pay was $36,120 in 2023[5]
27
US animal trainers employment was 19,600 in 2023[5]
28
BLS reports 2022–2032 projected growth for animal trainers 13%[5]
29
Hiring demand for veterinary roles is driven by retirements and growth[5]
30
2023 veterinary workforce shortage reported as 23,000 veterinarians in US[6]
Interpretation
Hiring, Demand & Skills Interpretation
For the hiring, demand, and skills category, the pet industry’s rising willingness to invest in care is colliding with a talent shortage, as 81% of owners see pets as family and 79% will pay more, while 62% of US practices struggle to hire veterinary technicians and 51% report difficulty finding associate veterinarians.
More related reading
04 · Category
Compensation, Turnover & Work Conditions30 stats
01
In 2023, US workforce participation rate was 62.5% for those with a bachelor’s[5]
02
Veterinary assistant median pay $30,410 (May 2023) indicating compensation level[5]
03
Veterinary technologists median pay $42,020 (May 2023)[5]
04
Veterinarians median pay $100,370 (May 2023)[5]
05
Animal caretakers and attendants median pay $30,000 (May 2023 approx. from BLS)[5]
06
Animal care and service workers median pay $36,000 (May 2023)[5]
07
O*NET veterinary assistant working environment includes moderate physical risks[16]
08
O*NET veterinary assistant work hours include evening and weekend shifts (common)[16]
09
O*NET veterinary technologists working conditions include exposure to communicable diseases[16]
10
O*NET veterinarians work environment includes exposure to communicable diseases and physical injuries risk[16]
11
AVMA 2022 survey: 58% of veterinarians reported experiencing emotional exhaustion[6]
12
AVMA 2022 survey: 34% reported symptoms consistent with burnout[6]
13
2023 DVM360 report: 45% of practice team members plan to leave within 2 years[11]
14
2022 AAHA report: median length of employment for veterinary assistants about 2 years[7]
15
2022 AAHA report: median length of employment for technicians about 3 years[7]
16
2022 AAHA report: median length of employment for veterinarians about 4 years[7]
17
US BLS quits rate peaked at 3.9% in 2022 (all industries)[5]
18
BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover: overall quits rate 2.5% in 2023 Q4[5]
19
BLS average hourly earnings increased to $32.68 in March 2023 (all industries)[5]
20
BLS average hourly earnings in healthcare and social assistance was $35.00 in 2023[5]
21
BLS shows wage growth for healthcare occupations increased 4% year over year in 2023[5]
22
O*NET indicates veterinarians have moderate job stress[16]
23
O*NET indicates animal care and service workers have moderate physical risk[16]
24
O*NET indicates veterinary assistants have stress due to handling injured animals[16]
25
AVMA 2021–2022 data: 70% of veterinarians work in settings requiring after-hours/emergency on-call[6]
26
2022 survey: 73% of veterinary teams say workload causes scheduling burnout[11]
27
2023 survey: 38% of veterinary team members reported low pay satisfaction[13]
28
2023 survey: 61% of veterinary team members said benefits (health insurance) are important in retention[13]
29
2022 survey: 49% of veterinary practices offered mental health resources[7]
30
2023 survey: 56% of veterinary practices increased wages to retain staff[7]
Interpretation
Compensation, Turnover & Work Conditions Interpretation
In compensation, turnover, and work conditions, the pet industry’s pay levels vary widely, with median earnings of $30,000 to $36,000 for animal caretakers and service workers rising to $100,370 for veterinarians as of May 2023, suggesting uneven job attractiveness and potential retention challenges across roles.
05 · Category
Pet Owners, Usage & Behavioral Drivers30 stats
01
In the US, 66% of households have a pet (pet-owning households)[2]
02
US pet ownership includes 45% households with dogs and cats combined (approx.)[2]
03
US households with dogs are 48% (approx.) in 2024[2]
04
US households with cats are 35% (approx.) in 2024[2]
05
76% of dog owners use treats as part of training[17]
06
62% of cat owners use scratching posts[18]
07
53% of pet owners say they have purchased online in the past year[19]
08
48% of pet owners use subscription services for pet food[20]
09
44% of pet owners report visiting a veterinarian at least once a year[13]
10
25% of pet owners report visiting more than once a year[13]
11
34% of pet owners have their pet on a preventative medication regimen[13]
12
41% of pet owners purchase parasite prevention products monthly[13]
13
58% of pet owners track pet health records digitally[21]
14
36% of pet owners use telehealth for pet advice[22]
15
In a 2023 survey, 69% of pet owners are interested in AI-driven pet health tools[23]
16
In a 2023 survey, 71% of pet owners want personalized nutrition recommendations[24]
17
In a 2022 survey, 52% of pet owners say they feel confident to administer at-home medications[25]
18
In 2022, 61% of pet owners prefer appointment scheduling online[26]
19
In 2022, 27% of pet owners report using mobile apps for pet care[26]
20
In 2021, 63% of pet owners said they would switch vets for shorter wait times[27]
21
In 2021, 58% of pet owners said they would pay extra for same-day appointments[27]
22
45% of pet owners said they seek behavioral advice from their veterinarian[25]
23
39% of pet owners said they seek grooming advice from their veterinarian[25]
24
50% of dog owners report at least one regular dog walk per day[28]
25
37% of cat owners report daily playtime with toys[29]
26
33% of pet owners purchase premium food brands[30]
27
22% of pet owners buy grain-free diets[30]
28
19% of pet owners buy raw diets[30]
29
29% of pet owners buy functional treats (e.g., dental, joint support)[30]
30
14% of pet owners use pet wearable devices[31]
Interpretation
Pet Owners, Usage & Behavioral Drivers Interpretation
Because 66% of US households are pet owners and among them large shares engage in key routines like 76% of dog owners using treats for training and 62% of cat owners using scratching posts, pet ownership behavior is strongly shaped by practical usage habits that HR in the pet industry will need to support.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). HR In The Pet Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-pet-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "HR In The Pet Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-pet-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "HR In The Pet Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-pet-industry-statistics.
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