Annual Salary
£12,000 to £17,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Agriculture or Environment or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Agriculture or Environment or go back to all job sectors
Kennel workers care for dogs and cats in kennels or catteries.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; flexibly
There will be
5.4% more Kennel worker jobs in 2027.
In this job, you will:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in kennels or at an animal welfare centre.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a college course, for example:
You'll usually need:
You can do an Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
You might also be able to apply for an Animal Care and Welfare Manager Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, if you're aiming to become a supervisor or manager at a kennels or cattery.
There are no set entry requirements but it may help you to get in if you have:
Volunteering is a useful way to get experience and shows employers that you are enthusiastic and interested in working with animals.
You can find out about opportunities for volunteering in your area from:
There are no set qualifications for applying directly to become a kennel worker. Some employers may ask you for GCSE grades at 9 to 4 (A* to C), including maths and English.
Experience of working with animals will be useful.
You'll need to:
Kennel work is very practical, so paid or unpaid experience of working with animals could improve your job prospects.
You can find out more about careers in animal care from the National Land Based College UK and The College of Animal Welfare.
With experience, you could become a supervisor or manager, or set up your own kennels or cattery.
You could move into other kinds of work with animals, like dog trainer, RSPCA inspector or veterinary nurse.
You'll need: