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Pet Services
Petco, PetSmart, Camp Bow Wow
Animal Trainers
Animal trainers spend their days teaching animals to respond to cues, perform specific behaviors, and stay calm around people and equipment. The work is distinctive because it mixes coaching with close observation of health and behavior, and the big tradeoff is that progress can be slow: patience, repetition, and physical stamina matter more than quick wins.
Also known as Dog TrainerCanine TrainerObedience TrainerHorse TrainerAnimal Handler
Median Salary
$38,750
Mean $45,780
U.S. Workforce
~20K
7.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.1%
47.3K to 49.8K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Animal Trainers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~20K workers, with a median annual pay of $38,750 and roughly 7.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 47.3 K in 2024 to 49.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Animal Care Assistant and can progress toward Training Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Animal Behavior Assessment & Positive Reinforcement Training, Clicker Training, Treat Rewards & Cueing, and Animal Health Monitoring, First Aid & Medication Administration, paired with soft skills such as Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Check whether an animal is ready to learn a new behavior or safely take part in a performance.
- Help animals get comfortable with human voices, touch, and handling so they do not react fearfully.
- Teach commands, routines, and performance cues through repetition and rewards.
- Feed, exercise, clean, and maintain the spaces where animals live, train, or perform.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check whether an animal is ready to learn a new behavior or safely take part in a performance.
02 Help animals get comfortable with human voices, touch, and handling so they do not react fearfully.
03 Teach commands, routines, and performance cues through repetition and rewards.
04 Feed, exercise, clean, and maintain the spaces where animals live, train, or perform.
05 Watch for signs of illness, injury, or stress and give prescribed medicine when needed.
06 Keep notes on each animal and advise owners or handlers on care, training, or selection.
Industries That Hire
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Zoos & Aquariums
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, SeaWorld, Georgia Aquarium
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Film, TV & Live Entertainment
Disney, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery
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Public Safety & K-9 Services
Allied Universal, Constellis, Securitas
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Veterinary Clinics & Animal Welfare
Banfield Pet Hospital, ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma, and BLS says the job typically uses moderate-term on-the-job training rather than a long degree program.
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The work is hands-on all day, with real variety between feeding, cleaning, exercising, training, and watching animals for changes in behavior.
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There are still steady hiring needs, with about 7.1K annual openings tied to replacements and turnover.
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You can specialize in very different settings, from pets and service animals to performance animals, horses, or zoo animals.
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Progress is visible when it works: you see an animal learn a cue, calm down around people, or perform a task more reliably.
Challenges
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Pay is not especially strong for the amount of physical work involved: the median wage is $38,750 and the mean is only $45,780.
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Growth is modest at 5.1% over the 2024 to 2034 period, so this is not a fast-expanding occupation.
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The field is fairly small, with about 20,110 workers, which can limit the number of local openings and advancement options.
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The job can be physically demanding and sometimes risky, because animals may bite, kick, bolt, or panic without warning.
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A lot of the work depends on the health and temperament of the animals themselves, so schedules, client demands, and performance goals can be unpredictable.
Career Progression
Animal Care Assistant
0-2 years
$28K-$34K
Beginners handle feeding, cleaning, basic exercise, and simple support tasks while learning how different animals behave.
Animal Trainer
2-6 years
$35K-$45K
This level teaches specific behaviors, watches for health or stress issues, and works directly with owners, handlers, or audiences.
Senior Animal Trainer THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$46K-$58K
Experienced trainers manage harder animals, design training plans, and often mentor newer staff.
Training Supervisor
10+ years
$59K-$72K
Supervisors oversee training programs, schedule staff, and handle the most difficult animals or high-visibility work.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
This is the most common entry point, held by 44.38% of workers in the field.
Some college courses in animal science, biology, or veterinary assisting
Another 16.56% of workers have some college coursework, which can help build basic animal-handling knowledge.
Post-secondary certificate in animal care or training
A certificate is held by 7.85% of workers and is a practical way to add hands-on training without a full degree.
Professional dog-training certification or apprenticeship
This path does not appear in the distribution data, but it is a realistic alternative because employers often care more about proven handling skills than formal schooling.
Key Skills
Technical
Animal Behavior Assessment & Positive Reinforcement Training 78%
Clicker Training, Treat Rewards & Cueing 74%
Animal Health Monitoring, First Aid & Medication Administration 72%
Leashes, Harnesses, Crates & Handling Equipment 70%
Training Logs, Spreadsheets & Animal Management Software 68%
Soft Skills
InstructingLearning StrategiesSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision Making Job Outlook and Trends
+5.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
7.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 47.3K to 49.8 K over the next decade, representing 5.1% growth. Around 7.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.