Personal care and service
Animal trainer
Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact, and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.
Median pay
$39,990
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
6,500
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Animal trainer
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Animal trainer: 31% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Agility Instructor · Dog Obedience Instructor · Dog Trainer · Guide Dog Instructor · Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) · Guide Dog Trainer · Horse Trainer · Racehorse Trainer
Outlook and AI
Animal trainers held 47,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 49,700 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Animal trainer vs. Animal caretaker
- Animal trainer vs. Animal breeder
- Animal trainer vs. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Animal trainer vs. Animal control worker
- Animal trainer vs. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Animal trainer vs. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Animal trainer vs. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Animal trainer vs. Athletes and sports competitors
- Animal trainer vs. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Animal trainer vs. Self-enrichment teacher