Payroll decisions should be made with animal welfare in mind, therefore expenses for animal care should come first (e.g. rental space, food, medicine, permits, etc.). Typical pay is listed here:

Management

Should expect a relatively low or inconsistent salary for themselves.

Managed Employees

Prioritized to motivate and maintain sufficient personnel.

Volunteers

Unpaid staff and are typically uncompensated monetarily.

Motivating volunteers should rather come in the form of flexibility in experience. They should be able to choose which tasks they want to perform. For example, one volunteer may prefer organizing or decorating the shelter, while another may prefer watching the animals and reporting abnormalities.

They should also be treated with the same respect, authority, and attention from management as a paid staff member. Volunteers are a large commitment, however, they can provide essential support for operational efficiency.