Do you get along better with your pets than other people?
Are the zoo and the aquarium your happy places?
Need Some Quick Cash?
If youre looking to boost your income this month, weve got just the thing for you.
9 Animal Jobs That Need a Bachelors Degree
1.
Its also a great job for working with animals.
Salary estimates:In 2023, the median pay for a veterinarian was $119,100.
Certified Veterinary Technician
A veterinarian is only as good as their certified vet tech (CVT).
CVTs do it all.
), and, in some cases, bathe and clip.
The list goes on!
Note: A vet tech differs from a veterinary assistant, which is described in No.
Zookeeper
Maybe you have always dreamed of feeding lions and bathing elephants.
Whatever your reason, the decision to become a zookeeper is an admirable one.
National Park Ranger
The National Parksare perfect for solo trips, friendship bonding experiences and family vacations.
Thats where the National Park Rangers come in.
Some rangers lead bird-watching expeditions while others restore butterfly habitats.
Animal Welfare Lawyer
Being an animal welfare lawyer takes working with animals to a whole new level.
They may also help you set up a pet power of attorney or a pet trust.
Animal-Assisted Therapist
Increasingly, mental health professionals are working with animals as part of their therapy practices.
Education required:As a therapist, you would need the traditional schooling required in the field.
Salary estimates:ZipRecruiterstates that the national average pay for pet massage therapists is approximately $71,679.
If youre interested in working with animals on behavioral issues, you could look into becoming an animal behaviorist.
Salary estimates:Salary.com places theaverage salary range for animal behavior specialistsat around $47,893.
Education required:Marine biologists require a bachelors degree.
Need a Hand With Bills?
Listen, we know its tough out there.
But theres no shame in asking for help.
These companiesmake it easy to help yourself and your bank account.
19 Jobs Working with Animals That Dont Require Formal Education
10.
Salary estimates:Salary.comreportsthat the median salary in 2023 for vet assistants is $33,857.
This is not significantly lower than a vet tech, which requires formal education.
There, youll greet pets and their humans, make them feel comfortable while they wait and schedule appointments.
Salary estimates:ZipRecruiter suggests theaverage salary for veterinary receptionistsis around $32,430 nationally.
Salary estimates:Baristas usually make around $15.15 an hour, but they can earn more with tips.
Salary estimates:Most pet stores pay entry-level workers minimum wage.
Pet Shelter Employee
One of the most rewarding ways to work with animals is at a pet shelter.
Shelters run on volunteers.
While there are certainly paid positions, these will be harder to find.
Youll spend your days cleaning cages, caring for animals and helping to place them into loving homes.
Horseback riding companies often operate in heavily touristed areas, like Yellowstone, the Olympics and the Smokies.
If you would rather help beginners learn the ropes (or should we say reins?)
Salary estimates:According to ZipRecruiter, ahorseback riding instructorcan expect to make roughly $33,728.
Pooper Scooper
Everybody poops, and somebodys gotta clean it up.
Salary estimates:ZipRecruiterestimates that the average professional pooper scooper makes $30,461 annually.
Youll be working with animals, and no formal schooling or even certification is required.
Salary estimates:Animal trainers earn about$33,875 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Service dogs, for example, provide a variety of services from guiding visually-impaired owners to detecting seizures.
Trained service animals also help veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).
Some even become rescue dogs and help when tragedy strikes.
Salary estimates:Zippia reports anaverage salary of $34,195 a year, or $16.44 an hour.
Salary estimates:According to the BLS, the median annual wage is $48,150.
Apps likeRoverhave turned this into a sustainable side hustle.
Salary estimates:Zippia reports that theaverage hourly wage for a dog sitteris $14.84 an hour.
Dog Walker
Many pet sitters also work as dog walkers.
Some work through apps like Rover while others may have launched their own small businesses.
Either way, youre working with animals and getting some fresh air.
Salary estimates:Stick with this job full-time, and Zippia.com estimates anaverage salary of $30,871nationally.
Doggy Day Care Attendant
Working with animals as a doggy daycare attendant can be fun, fulfilling hard work.
It was such a fun and rewarding job, she remembers.
And the best part?
Salary estimates:ZipRecruiterstates the national average annual pay for a dog daycare attendant is $29,511.
Pet Groomer
Pet grooming can be a physically taxing job, but it can be very rewarding too.
Salary estimates:According to ZipRecruiter,dog groomersearn a national average of $23 an hour plus tips.
Pet Detective
Move over, Ace Ventura.
Theres a new pet detective in town that is…if youre up for the task.
Pet detectives do important work, helping families find missing dogs and cats.
Strategies vary but include checking with shelters, using scent-sniffing dogs and interviewing neighbors.
Salary estimates:ZipRecruiterreports the average base pay for a pet detective is $61,905.
Wildlife Rehabilitator
Working with animals as a wildlife rehabilitator is one of the most admirable careers out there.
Wildlife rehabilitators spend their days caring for sick and injured wild animals.
The ultimate goal is to nurse them back to health and release them back into the wild.
Rehabilitators work closely with veterinarians and wildlife biologists, but typically, they learn the role on the job.
While there is no schooling required, many may have a degree in biology or zoology.
Salary estimates:ZipRecruiterreports that the average base pay for a wildlife rehabilitator is $44,859.
Pet Photographer
Smile for the camera, Scruffy!
Nine months later, I quit my day job to focus on being an animal photographer.
People thought I was crazy!
Salary estimates:ZipRecruiterreports that pet photographers earn a national average salary of $62,338.
Or perhaps watching for whales out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca?
Youve just got to be willing to relocate to where those animals live.
Salary estimates:Salaries vary widely depending on the kind of tours you are employed to lead.
This is an opportunity to launch your own business or join the staff of an existing bakery.
Salary estimates:According to the BLS, the median salary for bakers is $34,950 per year.
That works out to around $16.80 an hour.
And, if youre excited to get started, know that this industry is growing fast.
Is Your Paycheck Not Going As Far As It Used To?
We get it.Everythingis more expensive than it used to be, but your paycheck hasnt kept up.
When money is tight,these resourceswill help nearly everyone.
Your day-to-day will involve researching the products you represent, connecting with current clients and contacting new clients.
You wont sell directly to consumers; instead, you will sell to pet stores.
But it takes a lot to make these sites run.
Salary estimates:The salary for workers at a pet adoption website entirely depends on the role they fill.
Telehealth Veterinarian
Much like human doctors, veterinarians may assess their patients online via telehealth videoconferencing.
Of course, you wont be able to offer the full scope of medical care.
The focus is more on advising on certain conditions, like skin rashes or kennel cough.
Many telehealth veterinarians have hybrid roles; they work some days in an office and some days from home.
Education requirementsfor telehealth vets are the same as for in-person vets.
Some writers even get to write for animal-related sites.
Salary estimates:Freelance writers vary in what they charge based on experience and pop in of writing.
If you do launch a freelancing career, youll want to understandhow to set your rates.
For in-house roles,the average copywriter salary is $65,217.
