Career Profile: Animal Trainers

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 52,900 people employed as animal trainers in the United States. The median annual salary is $31,280. Entry level employees earn approximately $23,160 per year and senior employees earn approximately $58,790 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Train horses or other equines for riding, harness, show, racing, or other work, using knowledge of breed characteristics, training methods, performance standards, and the peculiarities of each animal.
• Use oral, spur, rein, or hand commands to condition horses to carry riders or to pull horse-drawn equipment.
• Retrain horses to break bad habits, such as kicking, bolting, or resisting bridling or grooming.
• Train dogs in human assistance or property protection duties.
• Train dogs to work as guides for the visually impaired.
• Place tack or harnesses on horses to accustom horses to the feel of equipment.
• Train and rehearse animals, according to scripts, for motion picture, television, film, stage, or circus performances.
• Organize or conduct animal shows.
• Instruct jockeys in handling specific horses during races.
• 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.
• Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
• Administer prescribed medications to animals.
• Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
• Evaluate animals for trainability and ability to perform.
• Advise animal owners regarding the purchase of specific animals.

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