Animal Attendant / Groomer
OFO Code: 516401
Last checked 3 October 2026
1. Occupation identity
- OFO code
- 516401
- Occupation
- Animal Attendant / Groomer
- Classification
- OFO 2021
- Major group
- SERVICE AND SALES WORKERS
- Unit group
- 5164 · Pet Groomers and Animal Care Workers
Official description
Pet groomers and animal care workers feed, handle, train and groom animals and assist veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians in veterinary facilities, animal shelters, breeding and boarding kennels, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, riding schools, dog training schools pet grooming and similar establishments.
More official OFO detail
Specialisations: Animal Rescue Worker, Kennel Assistant, SPCA Worker, Shearer, Pet Groomer, Boarding Kennel Attendant, Horse Groomer, Pound Keeper
- Grooming animals by performing tasks such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails and cleaning ears
- Sterilising bottles, beakers and other equipment
- Cleaning and sterilising veterinary surgical instruments
- Collecting and recording animal information such as weight, size, physical condition and, treatments received, medications given, and food intake
- Bathing and feeding animals
- Training animals to develop and maintain desired animal behaviours for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding and other activities
- Cleaning, organizing, and disinfecting animal quarters such as pens, stables, cages, and yards, and animal equipment such as saddles and bridles
- Labelling drugs, chemicals and other pharmaceutical preparations and replenishing stock
- Leading or carrying animals to treatment room and holding them during treatment
2. Demand status
Demand evidence not yet linked
This is an official OFO 2021 occupation. Demand status is separate evidence and is not inferred from inclusion in the OFO.
A national demand signal is not a promise of a vacancy in your town.
3. Salary evidence
No sourced salary record has been ingested for this OFO code yet.
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5. Qualification
Qualification evidence pending.
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7. Industry, sector and provincial context
National occupation classification. Industry and provincial context are shown only where a separate official source supports the link.
No source-backed modern OFO↔SIC 7 industry link has been ingested for this occupation yet. PathLens does not infer one from the job title.
Browse the official South African industry classification →8. Next steps — official links
9. Decision tools
10. Sources for this page
- DHET Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO 2021) · Planned
- DHET Occupations in High Demand · Planned
- Critical Skills List · Planned
- QCTO qualifications and occupational certificates · Planned
- Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey · Planned
- SETA Sector Skills Plans / hard-to-fill vacancy tables · Planned