Imagine jugging around your street every morning and seeing a monkey, an elephant or a snake staring at you. If you ever thought of how exciting it would be to have these creatures around you, then you can make working with animals your ideal career.
This article can be of help, it contains 15 high-paying marketable careers and jobs with animals. Read through to get the best out of it.
Careers with animals are very vast. However, if you are interested in exploring high-paying animal careers and getting the best out of them, there are many things to consider.
This article contains all you need to know about work with animal careers. The first section describes the varieties of jobs that involve working with animals, the salary, and educational and training requirements.
The second section summarizes the various institutions that offer animal science courses.
In addition, the third section examines the advantages and risks of working with animals’ careers. Read through to get the best out of this publication.
Table of contents
Careers with Animals
A wide variety of options are available in working with animals, ranging from the type of animals you want to work with to settings they feel are most rewarding. Below is the list of high paying work with animal careers that will be very profitable to you and also the jobs with animals that do not require a degree.
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary medicine or Veterinary science is one of the high-paying careers with animals. The branch of medicine deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals.
Basically, Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health. They focused on the health care of animals such as house pets, livestock, and animals found at the zoo or racetracks.
Veterinary doctors examine animals to find out the cause of their illnesses, treat injuries, prescribe medications, perform surgeries, and monitor patients’ progress in follow-up visits.
Additionally, most Veterinary doctors work in private clinics, hospitals, farms, laboratories, classrooms, and zoos. The job titles for those in the veterinary medicine field include Veterinarian, Animal Behaviorist, Veterinary Assistant, Vet Technologist, and Vet Technician.
Required Education and Training
- Earn a Bachelor’s degree in biology, anatomy, zoology, chemistry, and physiology.
- Acquired a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from an accredited college or university.
- Obtain a State license.
Salary
Data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics(BLS) show that the median annual wage for Veterinarians was $93,830 in May 2018.
Animal training
Animal training is a high-paying career with animals. it is the act of teaching animals specific responses to specific conditions or stimuli. They train animals basically for the purpose of protection, companionship, detection, or entertainment.
These professions train animals such as Chimpanzees, Dogs Pigeons, Bottlenose Dolphins, Rats African Grey Parrots, and Elephants.
Animal care and service workers are employed in a variety of settings, including kennels, zoos, stables, animal shelters, pet stores, veterinary clinics, and aquariums.
Required Education and Training
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- A bachelor’s degree in biology, marine biology, animal science, or a related field.
- Have experience with Animals.
Salary
According to BLS, the median annual wage for animal trainers was $29,290 in May 2018 and the annual wage for nonfarm animal caretakers was $23,760 in May 2018
Pet business
Pet Business is one of the jobs with animals. it has an entrepreneurial option for pet businesses which include breeding, pet groomer, dog walker, pooper scooper, pet masseuse, pet sitter.
In addition, to become a professional pet trainer, you must join the associations and training programs for virtually every aspect of this industry including the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, American Pet Products Association, International Boarding and Pet Services National Association of Pet Sitters
Required Education and Training
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Time management, decision-making, math, writing, speaking, coordination, negotiation, and customer service skills are required.
Salary
Data from BLS shows that the median annual wage for animal trainers was $29,290 in May 2018 and also, the annual wage for nonfarm animal caretakers was $23,760 in May 2018.
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Biologists are scientists that work with animals. They observe and study the behaviors of animals along with the role each animal plays in its natural habitat.
However, wildlife biologists also study plants, although they mostly focus on working with and learning about wild animals, some also look at the ecosystem as a whole and see how people impact it.
These professions work in offices, laboratories, or outdoors. Depending on their job, they may spend considerable time in the field gathering data and studying animals in their natural habitats.
Required Education and Training
- Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in zoology or wildlife biology or a related field such as ecology.
- Earn a Master’s degree in the above disciplines and also take courses in mathematics and statistics to prepare for complex data analysis.
- A Ph.D. is necessary to lead independent research and for most university research positions.
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Salary
Data from BLS shows that the median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists was $63,420 per year and $30.49 per hour in May 2018.
Pet Photographer
Pet photography is one of the works with animal career options. it is a fun and profitable business that allows one to combine a love of animals with photographic skills.
Basically, these professions capture images for commercial, artistic, or personal purposes. They use photographic techniques to get the best images, enhance photographs with software, and maintain equipment.
This profession must market themselves in order to attract clients, as well as provide good customer service to retain them.
In addition, the working conditions for photographers vary by specialty. Some work in studios while others work in laboratories and use microscopes to photograph subjects.
Required Education and Training
- Must acquire a good technical understanding of photography.
- Requires Customer service, artistic ability, detail-oriented, and good communication skills.
- Photojournalists and industrial and scientific photographers often need a bachelor’s degree.
Salary
Data from Bls shows that the median wage for photographers was $16.35 per hour and $34,000 per year in May 2018.
Humane Educator
Humane education is one of the works of animals’ careers. They are responsible for promoting human interactions with animals in a caring and compassionate way. Basically, they work to disseminate information by teaching the community about a variety of humane topics including animal welfare, animal rights, and animal behavior.
Humane Educator responsibilities include the following:
- They produce videos, taking photos, and creating multimedia presentations used to promote animal welfare and the programs at their shelter.
- Develop and present educational programs to the community groups, with audiences of varying ages and backgrounds.
- They visit schools, summer camps, scout meetings, community businesses, college campuses, and many other locations.
- They use brochures, banners, posters, workbooks, and handout materials to create educational materials for use in presentations.
- Perform general office work.
In addition, Humane educators are generally employed by humane societies or animal shelters
Required Education and Training
- To get jobs with animals in this profession, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in education, animal science, or a related field.
- Verbal, written communication, learning, and administrative skills are required.
Salary
According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the humane educator annual median salary range is $27,000 to $35,000 per year.
Administration or policy
The administrative role is one of the major roles that make working with animals pretty easy. These professionals are concerned about the welfare of animals and humans in the animal industry.
They function behind the scene by taking care of the administration or policy positions that allow them to help make decisions that impact overall human and animal welfare. The administrative roles and responsibilities include:
- Employ and manage staff
- Write, analyze and present reports.
- Liaise with general staff at all levels.
- Conduct discussions with research staff.
- Meet with clients and adapt their requirements to suit your work.
- Negotiate trial requirements with students in educational settings.
- Help undertake presentations for commercial clients.
- Ensure that work adheres to government legislation.
- Ensure effective budget management for maintaining site buildings and equipment.
- Coordinate audit trails and accompany visiting auditors
- Give specialist advice and information to clients and colleagues.
Required Education and Training
- To get a job with animals in this field, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree in fields including agriculture, biological science, biotechnology, environmental sciences, and other related fields.
Salary
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for this profession was $61,110 in 2014.
Animal scientists
You can not list the top paying careers with animals without the Animal scientists. These personnel conduct research on domestic farm animals, such as cows or chickens, with a focus on food production. Basically, they explore animal genetics, nutrition, reproduction, diseases, and growth to develop efficient ways to produce and process meat, poultry, eggs, and milk.
They advise farmers on proper animal housing and nutrition, how to control disease, and aspects of animal genetics, such as how to breed animals so that their offspring have no birth defects.
Most animal scientists work in research universities, private industry, or for the federal government. They work in offices, laboratories, or in the field.
Required Education and Training
- you acquire a job in this profession, you must earn a Bachelor of Science degree in courses including anatomy, physiology, reproduction, nutrition, behavior, laboratory science, agricultural marketing, ration formulation, biology, chemistry, and statistics.
- Obtain a master’s degree or doctorate.
- Requires Independence, time management, verbal and written communication skills, active listening and interpersonal skills.
Salary
The median annual salary of an Animal scientist is $39,910.
Marine Biologist
Marine biology is one of the high paying careers with animals the scientific study of marine life, organisms in the sea.
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Basically, this profession entails studying animals in their natural habitat, collecting and examining animal specimens, and conducting experiments in controlled and natural environments. Their core responsibilities include the following:
- Study marine life in natural or controlled environments
- Collect data and specimens
- Study characteristics of species
- Assess human impact
- Monitor and manage populations
- Report findings
- Teaching
In addition, marine biologists are employed in places including zoological parks, aquariums, governmental agencies, laboratories, educational institutions, museums,
Required Education and Training
- Master’s degree in marine biology, aquatic biology, oceanography, ecology, or wildlife and fisheries science.
- The skills you need to get a job in this field are research, math, observant, problem-solving skills.
Salary
Data from BLS shows that the median annual salary of a marine biologist is $51,615.
Animal Shelter Manager
An animal shelter manager is responsible for managing the daily activities at an animal shelter from working with incoming animals to overseeing the work of staff members to ensure that all operations run smoothly.
Basically, their duty entails giving medication to animals, treating wounds, ensuring that facilities are clean and safe, supervising staff members and volunteers, educating shelter visitors about how to properly care for animals, and managing the budget.
In addition to relevant work experience, an associate’s degree or a certificate in business management are typically required for animal shelter managers.
Required Education and Training
- Associate degree or business management certificate
- Customer service, budgeting, verbal and written communication skills are required to get a job in this field.
Salary
Data from BLS shows that the median annual wage for Animal care and service workers is $23,950.
Therapist and Animal Behaviorist
Animal behavior therapists study animal behavior, interactions, provide training, and conduct research of domesticated and wild animals.
They work to solve behavior problems by training animals to respond to commands, help animals acclimate to new surroundings by getting them accustomed to hearing human voices, and creating training programs to ensure that the animals learn specific behaviors.
In addition, these professions work in circuses, zoos, aquariums, animal shelters, television production companies, and research facilities while some are animal trainers who are self-employed.
Required Education and Training
- you must earn a bachelor’s degree in marine biology or animal science to get a job with animals in this field.
- Requires Listening, time management, verbal communication, instruction, and problem-solving skills.
Salary
The annual median salary of Therapist and Animal Behaviorist is $25,770
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary technicians or Para veterinary workers are those people who help diagnose and treat animals in private clinics, animal hospitals, and research facilities under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
Basically, their jobs with animals include the following resp[onsibilities:
- Performing diagnostic tests and x-rays
- Preparing animals for surgical procedures
- Administering medications, vaccines, and treatments
- Providing emergency first aid or general nursing care
- Nursing and monitoring animals recovering from surgeries
- Observing and reporting on the behavior and condition of animals
- Restraining animals for examination or treatment
- Administering anesthesia and assisting during medical procedures
- Collecting and recording animal case histories
- Educating animal owners on home care
- Assisting veterinarians and scientists in biomedical research
Required Education and Training
- Obtain an associate degree program for veterinary technicians.
- Requires writing, listening, speaking, monitoring, time management, and coordination skills.
Salary
According to BLS, the median annual wage of a Veterinary Technician was $31,070.
Wildlife Rehabilitator
Wildlife rehabilitators provide care to wild animals that are suffering from illnesses and injuries or have been orphaned and abandoned and thereafter release them to their natural habitat.
These professionals also work closely with veterinarians in order to determine how to provide the best and most effective care to the animals.
However, wildlife rehabilitation can be a big responsibility, the rehabilitators are responsible for the welfare of the wild animals in their care and also have the responsibility to provide good, accurate information to the public who approach them as the wildlife experts.
Wild rehabilitators can actually work as veterinarians. They often have other primary jobs such as zoologists, biologist and they practice wildlife rehabilitation as part of their primary occupation.
Required Education and Training
- Postsecondary degree in animal behavior/biology, ecology, or a related discipline.
- Have experience working with animals.
- State or federal permits may also be required.
Salary
Data from BLS shows that the median annual wage for animal trainers was $23,950 per year and $11.51 per hour in May 2018.
Horse Groomer
Horse grooming is one of the careers working with animals. it is the hygienic care given to a horse. A person who is responsible for the management of horses and also the care of the stables is called a groom or stable boy.
Horse grooms provide practical daily horse care to ensure the horses’ health, welfare, and safety. They are generally responsible for tasks such as mucking out stalls, cleaning and refilling water containers, grooming and bathing, cleaning tack, bandaging legs, administering basic first aid for cuts and scrapes and warm-up racehorses before jockeys ride them.
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These professionals may also operate the farming equipment that is related to the animals. In addition, the job opportunities can be found at racing stables, breeding or boarding farms, polo clubs, and riding schools.
Required Education and Training
- Horsemanship and customer service skills are required.
Salary
The median annual salary of a horse groom is $15,000.
Kennel Attendant
Kennel attendants are one of the careers with animals. They provide daily care for boarded dogs and assist with kennel maintenance. These workers provide basic care for animals that are caged in kennels.
Basically, this position includes scheduling boarding appointments, cleaning cages, and runs, bathing, grooming, administering medication and monitoring the behavior of boarded dogs. They also interact with clients as they pick up and drop off their dogs.
Kennel attendants most frequently are employed by boarding kennels, and also with veterinary clinics,
In addition, Kennel workers should use caution always especially when administering medication, feeding, and exercising boarded dogs to minimize the chance of an injury.
Required Education and Training
- High school diploma.
- Must have prior experience working with animals as Pet attendance.
- Recordkeeping, attention to detail, and administrative skills are required.
Salary
According to BLS, the lowest 10% of wages paid to animal care and service workers was less than $18,160, or $8.73 per hour. Most kennel attendance falls in this category.
What Are the Schools for Animal Scientist?
If you want to make a career out of animal management, here is the list of accredited schools for you and their corresponding tuition.
Schools Tuition
University of Minnesota $22,810
Rutgers University $25,627
University of Florida $15,866
Cornell University $50,953
University of California-Davis $40,728
Southern Technical College $12,924
University of Georgia $29,844
Michigan State University $37,890
Mississippi State University $15,828
University of Tennessee $ 31,144
What are the Advantages and Risk Involved in Working With Animals?
Working with animals can be very interesting, making a career out of it can also be very rewarding, but you must also be aware of the risk involved to know the precautionary measures to take.
The benefits and risk involved in jobs with animals including the following:
Advantages
- Companionship: Animals help to improve heart health by normalizing blood pressure and regulating the heart rate during stressful situations.
- Working with animals engages your brain
Risk
- Exposure to animals or animal products can cause asthma and allergies.
- Animal products such as dander, hair, scales, fur, saliva, and body wastes contain allergens that can cause both respiratory and skin disorders.
Precautions Tips for working with Animals
Update
- Study the Behavior of the Species
- Stay Alert at All Times
- Wear Personal Protective Equipment
- Take Precautions Against Zoonotic Diseases
- Minimize Allergic Reactions
- Dispose of Medical Waste in Appropriate Containers
- Study the animal and develop an Exit Strategy
- Inspect Handling equipment and facilities for Safety
- For the dogs, you have to prepare kennel rope or lead to slip over the animal’s head or attach to collar
The top jobs with animals that pay well include the following
> Kennel attendant
> Veterinary Technicians.
> Laboratory animal caretaker.
> Marine Biologist.
> Veterinary technicians.
> Animal control worker.
> Conservation and forest technicians.
Animal lovers have a wide range of career options including
> zoology
>Veterinary Technology.
> Animal science.
> Seeing-Eye Dog Trainer.
> Pet Adoption Counseling
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that veterinarians earn a median salary of $88,770. The best-paid veterinarians earn $161,070, while the entyr-level earned $52,470.
Some of the jobs with animals you can secure without a degree include Pet training, horse grooming and Kernnel keeper.
Shelters and wildlife refuges need veterinarian technicians to rescue injured animals. Veterinarians need a bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology or a related field and a doctor of veterinary medicine degree.
Conclusion
Careers with animal paths are vast, and that makes it challenging to decide on which option to choose. The first step is to know where and how to start exploring.
However, before you kick-start work with animals, you must carefully consider where you want to be and what you want to do.
Also, consider enrolling in an accredited college or university to get the best out of careers working with animals. The following questions serve as a starting point.
In addition, it is also essential to know the risk involved and the necessary steps to take to overcome those risks.
Reference
- learnhowtobecome.org: Careers with Animals
- bls.gov: Working with animals
- prospects.ac.uk: Field trials officer