Social Services
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 salary
$38,750
Typical range
$29k – $71k
Job outlook
+5% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Animal Trainers
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Animal Trainers
Entry / Junior
$29,120
~2 yrs to advance
Animal Trainers
Established
$38,750
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Animal Trainers
Senior
$54,775
Key skills
A typical day
- •Cue or signal animals during performances.
- •Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
- •Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
- •Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
- •Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Social Services
Explore all- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Wisconsin–Madison49% admit · $72,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.