Animal Care Specialist III pay range
Commonwealth of Kentucky · class code 21003531
- Class code
- 21003531
- Pay grade
- 14
- Pay unit
- Month
- Alternate ranges
- 3
- State
- Kentucky
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky published pay range for Animal Care Specialist III is $3,673 to $5,877 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 $44,074 to $70,518 a year at full time.
- Kentucky Personnel Cabinet keys this classification as class code 21003531.
- 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 | $3,673 | $5,509 | per month |
| Range 40-hour week | $3,918 | $5,877 | per month |
| Range Hourly | $22.60 | $33.90 | 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 09/16/2023.
What the state says the job is
Responsible for the daily care of animals at Salato Wildlife Education Center. Works with all captive species including large, dangerous, exotic, and venomous species in performing animal husbandry, conducting animal training, and enrichment demonstrations for the public. Serves as animal care emergency contact related to animal care, containment, and mechanical habitat systems; performs other duties as required.
Examples of the work
Responsible for the daily care of animals at Salato Wildlife Education Center. Works with all captive species including large, dangerous, exotic, and venomous species in performing animal husbandry, conducting animal training, and enrichment demonstrations for the public. Conducts animal trainings with full responsibility, conducts research on stay aware of trends and related aspects. Has total responsibility for one area of exhibits such as aquatics and has advances knowledge of related maintenance. Serves as animal care emergency contact. Responds to emergencies related to animal care, containment, and mechanical habitat systems.
Minimum qualifications
EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree. EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: Four years of wildlife or habitat management/development or experience in veterinary clinic, kennel, stable, farm, aquarium, or zoo. 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.