Animal Trainer Job Description: Overview, Education & Training Requirements, Job Outlook and Salary
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Job Overview: The job of an animal trainer involves teaching animals certain responses to obey particular commands in various conditions and environments. Trainers can land jobs in zoos, theme parks, wildlife sanctuaries or the entertainment industry. They train animals for detection, companionship, entertainment, protection or all of the above, using methods such as punishment or reinforcement to condition the response of animals.
Education, Training and Knowledge Requirements: Educational requirements needed in animal training vary greatly. Some may only require certification from vocational schools, while others require a degree (such as Bachelor’s degree in marina biology for dolphin trainers). Other trainers may land jobs even with just a high school diploma, as long as they have completed hands-on training. Some degrees available in colleges include animal psychology, veterinary studies, biological sciences and zoology. Internships can be found at farms, wildlife sanctuaries, animal shelters or the local veterinary clinic.
Skills & Abilities: An Animal Trainer must possess excellent communication skills (both verbal and written); organizational and interpersonal skills, math and problem-solving skills, superb marketing and advertising skills, knowledge in personal and customer service, financing skills and ability to multi-task, identify problems and work well with other people. Of course, animal trainers should love to take care of animals and know everything there is to know about the particular animal they’re taking care of – such as dog trainers and how to avoid common dog health problems.
Duties:
The job of an animal trainer varies depending on the animal they intend to train. In general, they are responsible for evaluating an animal’s aptitude and abilities, training animals to obey commands or perform tricks, teaching animal owners to handle, maintain and care for animals’ skills; treating injuries of animals and communicating with trained vet about the injuries or illnesses; examining animals to check symptoms of illnesses and providing proper medication; giving general care to animals such as exercise and food; cleaning animal shelter; keeping records of animal’s health, behavior and diet and organizing animal shows.
Trainers must also be creative in developing techniques or methods to make animals obey. They should adapt to a particular animal’s behavior and “communicate” with animals on a day-to-day basis. Earnings &
Job Outlook: The demand for animal trainers is expected to grow faster than average through 2018, but the demand for trainers of marine mammals is expected to grow slowly. Generally, an animal trainer earns a median hourly salary of $12.95 or $26,930 per year.
Gypsy Santiago is a professional resume writer and career search strategy/career branding coach with years of experience in assisting job seekers prepare for the job market. She helps create career-targeted resumes, provides useful tips about career transition, offers future career ideas and guide jobseekers about effective job search techniques.
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