Animal Trainer: Duties & Salary
by Willette Francis
Taking care of pets is hard work but a joy at the same time. As an animal trainer, you're responsible for the health, well-being, and happiness of animals. With the right education, this is a career choice that offers a variety of employment opportunities, from working in kennels to aquatic habitats. Embrace the animal lover in you and explore whether you're meant to be an animal care and services worker.
What does an animal care and services worker do?
Animal care and service workers train, feed, groom, and clean animals while also repairing cages, exercising animals, monitoring animal behavior, and providing companionship to animals. Other duties and responsibilities may vary based on your title and place of employment.
A kennel attendant cares for pets during their owner's absence. An entry-level attendant starts out with the task of cleaning cages, replenishing food and water, and exercising the pets. More experienced kennel attendants may have the task of basic animal healthcare and grooming. They could also have the responsibilities of shipping animals, obedience training, breeding, and selling animal supplies.
Groomers take care of a pet's appearance. They can be self-employed or work for a company that provides this service. Their tasks include cleaning and sanitizing equipment, maintenance of grooming equipment, scheduling appointments, discussing grooming needs with pet owners, and noting behavior.
Caretakers at animal shelters work with a large variety of animals. They provide care and maintain records of the animals received and discharged and the testing or treatments pets undergo at the shelter. Under the supervision of a veterinarian, animal shelter caretakers administer vaccines to newly admitted pets and may euthanize seriously ill, injured, or unwanted pets.
Animal trainers train animals for a number of reasons such as riding, security, obedience, and assisting the disabled. The most trained animals are dogs, horses, and marine mammals. Trainers use various techniques that let the animal know it has performed a command correctly. This training could take the animal trainer months or years. This position offers lots of hands-on experience but may also include the preparation of an animal's diet and ensuring the environment is clean and safe for the animals.
How much are animal care and service workers paid and what kinds of animal care and service worker jobs can I get?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that animal trainers' median wages were $12.65 per hour in 2006, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $22.42 per hour. Other animal caretakers who work with nonfarm animals earned median hourly wages of $8.72 in May 2006 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $14.64 per hour. Animal trainers can find employment in shows, marine parks, aquariums, animal shelters, dog salons, horse farms, and dog kennels. Animal caretakers could also find work in industries such as spectator sports, personal services, social advocacy organizations, and veterinary services.
Between 2006 and 2016, animal care positions are expected to grow by 19 percent. This is due to the increase in people who have companion pets. Employment growth and the replacement of workers leaving the field will create a large number of job openings.
What does an animal care and services worker do?
Animal care and service workers train, feed, groom, and clean animals while also repairing cages, exercising animals, monitoring animal behavior, and providing companionship to animals. Other duties and responsibilities may vary based on your title and place of employment.
A kennel attendant cares for pets during their owner's absence. An entry-level attendant starts out with the task of cleaning cages, replenishing food and water, and exercising the pets. More experienced kennel attendants may have the task of basic animal healthcare and grooming. They could also have the responsibilities of shipping animals, obedience training, breeding, and selling animal supplies.
Groomers take care of a pet's appearance. They can be self-employed or work for a company that provides this service. Their tasks include cleaning and sanitizing equipment, maintenance of grooming equipment, scheduling appointments, discussing grooming needs with pet owners, and noting behavior.
Caretakers at animal shelters work with a large variety of animals. They provide care and maintain records of the animals received and discharged and the testing or treatments pets undergo at the shelter. Under the supervision of a veterinarian, animal shelter caretakers administer vaccines to newly admitted pets and may euthanize seriously ill, injured, or unwanted pets.
Animal trainers train animals for a number of reasons such as riding, security, obedience, and assisting the disabled. The most trained animals are dogs, horses, and marine mammals. Trainers use various techniques that let the animal know it has performed a command correctly. This training could take the animal trainer months or years. This position offers lots of hands-on experience but may also include the preparation of an animal's diet and ensuring the environment is clean and safe for the animals.
How much are animal care and service workers paid and what kinds of animal care and service worker jobs can I get?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that animal trainers' median wages were $12.65 per hour in 2006, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $22.42 per hour. Other animal caretakers who work with nonfarm animals earned median hourly wages of $8.72 in May 2006 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $14.64 per hour. Animal trainers can find employment in shows, marine parks, aquariums, animal shelters, dog salons, horse farms, and dog kennels. Animal caretakers could also find work in industries such as spectator sports, personal services, social advocacy organizations, and veterinary services.
Between 2006 and 2016, animal care positions are expected to grow by 19 percent. This is due to the increase in people who have companion pets. Employment growth and the replacement of workers leaving the field will create a large number of job openings.
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Delicious
Tweet This!Sound Off! Post Your Comments
You are not currently logged on. Please login to add a comment.
Request Free Information
on Colleges Near You
Find
View Related Careers