Animal Trainers
Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact, and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.
- Median pay
- $39,990
- Doing it now
- 47,800
- By 2035
- Up 4.2%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
a year
across the country
6,500 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
- Cue or signal animals during performances.
- Administer prescribed medications to animals.
- Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
- Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
- Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
- Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Agricultural and Domestic Animal ServicesSee 29 colleges that teach it
- AnthrozoologySee 1 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Hands-on and practical
Helping and teaching
Organised and precise
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $39,990 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.