Animal Care Specialist I pay range
Commonwealth of Kentucky · class code 21003529
- Class code
- 21003529
- Pay grade
- 12
- Pay unit
- Month
- Alternate ranges
- 3
- State
- Kentucky
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky published pay range for Animal Care Specialist I is $3,036 to $4,857 per month, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Kentucky publishes an entry rate and a midpoint for each pay grade, not a maximum, so the upper figure on this page is the grade midpoint.
- That works out to about $36,426 to $58,282 a year at full time.
- Kentucky Personnel Cabinet keys this classification as class code 21003529.
- The plan defines 3 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which criteria an employee meets.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Alternate ranges
| Range | Entry | Midpoint | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range 37.5-hour week | $3,036 | $4,553 | per month |
| Range 40-hour week | $3,238 | $4,857 | per month |
| Range Hourly | $18.68 | $28.02 | per hour |
Which alternate range applies is set by the plan's own criteria (experience, certification or assignment). The criteria text lives in the source document.
Class specification
The Personnel Cabinet class specification for this class is published by Kentucky Personnel Cabinet. The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications. It was last revised 04/16/2024.
What the state says the job is
Performs beginning level work in the daily care of animals at Salato Wildlife Education Center or in the care of the bison herd at Big Bone Lick State Park such as cleaning, repairing, and maintaining animal habitats, preparing diets, and inspecting cages, grottos, and pens for structural defects and safety. Learns to perform general animal husbandry, training, and enrichment duties; performs other duties as required.
Examples of the work
Under direct supervision performs beginning level work in the daily care of animals at Salato Wildlife Education Center or the bison herd at Big Bone Lick State Park such as preparing diets for animals, cleaning and filling water containers, feeding animals as directed, and checking on animals daily for illness, injuries, and health. Learns to Inspect cages, grottos, and pens for structural defects and visitor/animal safety. .Assists with habitat repair and maintenance. Learns to maintain aquatic exhibits. Learns to observe and create daily records of animal behavior and health and assist with veterinary procedures.
Minimum qualifications
EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree. EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: NONE Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: Experience in wildlife management, husbandry or training, veterinary clinic, kennel, farm, stable, aquarium, or zoo will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
Special requirements
Must possess a valid driver's license prior to employment in this job classification. Must become Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Blood borne Pathogens Certified within six months of employment.
Quoted from the Personnel Cabinet class specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Kentucky Personnel Cabinet publishes this figure in Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule, effective September 16, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
Job titles and their pay grades come from the Job Specification Search, joined to the salary schedule.