Step Into Jobs / Animal care

Entry-level animal care jobs

Animal care covers hands-on work at rescue centres, kennels and catteries, veterinary practices, wildlife and conservation sites and equestrian yards. Much of it is entry-level, and apprenticeships are a common way in for people with no previous experience. There are 36 paid animal care vacancies on Step Into Jobs right now, and 4 volunteer positions listed separately.

The routes into animal work

Three routes account for most entry-level animal care hiring. Animal care assistant roles at rescue and rehoming centres are the most common, and are usually written around willingness and reliability rather than qualifications. Apprenticeships combine paid work at a centre with a formal animal care qualification.

The third route is volunteering. It is unpaid, and we list it separately and label it clearly for that reason, but in this field it is genuinely how a lot of people get their first paid role - centres recruit from the people already helping them.

Live Animal care vacancies

  1. Animal Care Assistant (3465)
    RSPCA - Fixed Term , GB
  2. Volunteer Admin Assistant for Vegan Wildlife Rights Organisation (Volunteer - unpaid)
    Verify Humanity
  3. Conservation Project Officer (Native Species Projects) - Highland Wildlife Park
    The Royal Zoological Society Of Scotland - Kincraig, Highland, GB - £25,867 to £26,514 based on experience with the opportunity to progress to £28,8
  4. Premises Officer / Swyddog Safle
    Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd - Llangynwyd, Maesteg, Bridgend CF34 9RW - £24,790
  5. Level 3 Teaching Assistant - Animal Care
    Isebrook School - Kettering, East Midlands - £26,847 - £27,709
  6. Curriculum Support Assistant - Dog Grooming
    Derby College - Derby, East Midlands - £25,989
  7. Animal Care Assistant (3480)
    RSPCA - Permanent , GB
  8. CHRISTMAS HELPERS FOR FESTIVE CHARITY AUCTION FOR ANIMALS
    International Aid for the Protection & Welfare of Animals (IAPWA)
  9. Dog Trainer
    Bravehound - Mid Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland - £25,000
  10. Practical Instructor – Animal Management
    City College Norwich - Norwich, Norfolk - £21,658 - £23,083
  11. Cover Supervisor within Animal and Equine
    City College Norwich - Norwich, Norfolk - £24,696 - £26,338
  12. Animal Management Lecturer
    East Surrey College - Gatton Point, London Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 2JX - £18,496 - £25,532 per annum pro rata for 0.6 FTE
  13. Canine Administrator
    Hays - Reading - GBP 13 - 13
  14. Trustee with a passion for animal welfare
    National Animal Welfare Trust - Watford, England, GB
  15. Veterinary Nurse (3454)
    RSPCA - Finsbury Park Animal Hospital , GB
  16. Animal Care Teacher
    Estuary Academy - Gravesend, South East - £24,066
  17. Equine Coach
    Sparsholt College Hampshire (inc Andover Campus) - Winchester, Hampshire - Up to £28,167 per annum
  18. Large Animal Handler
    Highbury Recruitment - Norwich, Norfolk
  19. Instructor (paddocks) – Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre (AHWRC)
    Sparsholt College Hampshire (inc Andover Campus) - Winchester, Hampshire - Up to £28,167 per annum
  20. Trap, Neuter and Return Volunteer - Luton, Dunstable & District Branch (Volunteer - unpaid)
    Cats Protection - Luton, England, GB
  21. Fosterer Volunteer - Luton, Dunstable & District Branch (Volunteer - unpaid)
    Cats Protection - Luton, England, GB
  22. Wildlife Conservation Volunteer (Volunteer - unpaid)
    League Against Cruel Sports - England, GB
  23. Graduate Conference Producer (Animal Health) 2027
    Kisaco Research - London, London, United Kingdom
  24. Canine Care Team
    Canine Partners - Loughborough, GB, GB - £26,894 - £28,575
  25. Animal Keeper – Companion Animals (Kennels & Cattery)
    Sparsholt College Hampshire (inc Andover Campus) - Winchester, Hampshire - Up to £25,335 per annum

Showing 25 of 40. Search more animal care jobs.

What the work actually involves

Hands-on animal care is physical, outdoor in large part, and involves cleaning, feeding, handling and record keeping as much as it involves animals directly. Weekend and bank holiday cover is normal because animals need care every day.

Veterinary support roles and wildlife or conservation posts sit alongside these and often ask for more: a veterinary nursing qualification, or a driving licence for a role covering a rural patch. Each vacancy states its own requirements.

How to apply

Each vacancy links to the original advertiser, where the centre, practice or charity runs its own application process. We do not collect applications ourselves.

Common questions

What qualifications do you need to work with animals?

For many entry-level roles, none. Animal care assistant posts at rescue centres are commonly written around reliability and physical willingness, with training on the job. Veterinary nursing and some specialist wildlife roles do require a formal qualification.

How do you get animal care experience with no experience?

Volunteering and apprenticeships are the two established routes. Centres frequently recruit paid staff from their existing volunteers, and an animal care apprenticeship pays you while you work toward a recognised qualification.

Are animal care jobs full time?

Both exist. Rescue and rehoming centres need cover seven days a week, so part time and weekend contracts are common alongside full time posts. The individual vacancy states its hours.