Personal Care and Service · Career brief

Animal Trainers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Animal Trainers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$39,990

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

4.2%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

6,500

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Cue or signal animals during performances.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

Before choosing, compare:Animal Caretakers Baggage Porters and Bellhops Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Animal Trainers with another field Explore rankings in Personal Care and Service Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$39,990

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

4.2%employment growth6,500openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

47,800

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Animal trainers (39-2011).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Cue or signal animals during performances.
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.
Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.
The helping mission includes documentation, direct care, and safety-critical routines where a missed detail can affect a patient.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.2
Performing General Physical Activities4.1
Training and Teaching Others4.0
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.0
Thinking Creatively3.9

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.5
Social3.6
Conventional3.0
Investigative2.3
Enterprising2.1
Artistic1.8

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Psychology Sales and Marketing Personnel and Human Resources

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Volunteer in a structured, supervised role long enough to learn whether sustained responsibility for other people's needs feels meaningful or draining.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Animal trainers nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Learning Strategies, Speaking, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options