20 Jobs Working With Animals (High-Paying, Entry-Level, And Work-From-Home)

Having a career that focuses on animals rather than people is many people’s idea of a dream job. Of course, there’s a range of choices – some jobs require that you work directly with domestic animals or wildlife, while others are more research-focused or work with animals indirectly.

If working with animals is your passion, then you’ve come to the right place. Whether you want to work from home, get a high salary, or just get started in the business, there are job options you can find that’ll suit your needs.

Key Takeaways

• Three of the best-known jobs working with animals include veterinarian, dog walker, and zookeeper.

• It’s possible to get a job working with animals without a college degree. However, if you want to make a good salary, it’ll behoove you to have one.

• Jobs working with animals can range from directly caring for pets or wildlife, to researching domestic animals or wildlife, to observing animals.

High-paying jobs working with animals

If you want to both work with animals and have a high-paying job, then there are several options available to you. Of course, you have to be willing to get a degree in animal science, veterinary medicine, or a similar field. But if you’re willing to put in the work, you can reap the benefits of working with furry friends and having a job that pays well.

1. Veterinarian
   Average Annual Salary: $126,000

   Veterinarians get paid well because there are a lot of requirements in order to become one. This is likely one of the first jobs people think of when considering a career working with animals. It’s also a highly skilled profession with a lot of prestige.

   Requirements to become a veterinarian: To become a veterinarian, you’ll need to earn your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).

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2. Veterinary surgeon
   Average Annual Salary: $246,000

   If just being a veterinarian doesn’t seem challenging or high paying enough, then you can become a veterinary surgeon. Most of your interaction with animals will be when they’re under anesthesia, but you will have the benefit of being able to give your patients a better quality of life.

   Depending on what type of animals you choose to specialize in, you can open your own practice and offer surgery to pets – such as cats and dogs. Or you can work with larger domestic animals, or even in a zoo or wildlife rehabilitation clinic.

   Requirements to become a veterinary surgeon: Veterinary surgeons need to earn a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine and then complete a three- to four-year residency program accredited by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).

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3. Marine biologist
   Average Annual Salary: $61,804

   If you aren’t interested in domesticated animals but want a well-paid job studying wildlife, then this can be the perfect job for you. Marine biology is a staggeringly varied field, meaning that you can study anything from whales and sharks to mollusks and krill.

   Requirements to become a marine biologist: A bachelor’s and master’s degree in marine biology is typically required to become a marine biologist. A doctorate degree in marine biology is also helpful, depending on the type of work you want to do.

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4. Animal nutritionist
   Average Annual Salary: $75,000

   Understanding the nutritional and dietary needs of animals is serious science, which is why being an animal nutritionist is a high-paying career. The exact nature of your expertise can vary depending on your preferences. You can work with pet food companies to come up with ideal dog and cat foods.

   If that’s unappealing, you can work with ranchers to determine the best nutritional choices for their livestock. Or you can work for a zoo, coming up with the best diets for the animals that live there. If wildlife is more your passion, then you can study the nutritional needs and diets of wild animals as well.

   Requirements to become an animal nutritionist: To become an animal nutritionist, you’ll typically need a bachelor of science in animal health and behavior, animal science, or a similar field, three years of experience, and a Licensed Animal Nutritionist certification. A master’s or doctorate degree will help as well.

5. Animal Scientist
   Average Annual Salary: $66,000

   Careers that involve studying animals usually end up being higher paid jobs than ones where you work directly with animals. If you’re interested in animal husbandry but don’t want to be a rancher, then this is a career to investigate. Animal scientists study domestic animals, figuring out the most effective ways to raise and care for them.

   Requirements to become an animal scientist: Becoming an animal scientist requires at least a bachelor’s degree – typically in animal science or biology — which is why it’s a high-paying job that works with animals. Most companies will want you to have some experience as a research assistant before becoming a full-fledged animal scientist.

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Entry-level jobs working with animals

You may be wondering how to get started in a career working with animals. Maybe going to college isn’t ideal for you, or you want a starter job to get some experience in a career with animals before moving on to your dream job. Whatever the reason, here are some jobs you can jump into without experience.

1. Pet care associate
   Average Annual Salary: $35,000

   If you want an easy-to-get part-time job that works with animals, this is an excellent choice. Any pet store that caries live animals will need a pet care associate to look after the critters in the store.
   In addition, you’ll act as an expert in the animals’ care and needs by asking customer questions. In addition to caring for the animals in the store, but you’ll set up new pet parents with the equipment, toys, treats, and food they need to care for their new pet.

   Requirements to be a pet care associate: You won’t need any more than a high school diploma to work in a pet store. If you want to run your own store or move in higher management, a bachelor’s degree in management, business, or a similar field can aid in your ambitions.

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2. Dog walker
   Average Annual Salary: $23,000

   Dog walking is an excellent entry-level job because it doesn’t require any qualifications. There’s getting to be more demand for dog walkers as more people get pets and work full-time jobs.

   While you do have to build up a client base, you’ll be able to set your own schedule and decide which dogs – and which owners – you want to work with.

   Requirements to become a dog walker: Dog walking doesn’t have any degree requirements, but a bachelor’s degree in animal science or even business management could be helpful if you want to establish a small business or expand to offer additional services.

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3. Pet groomer
   Average Annual Salary: $22,412

   Getting a job as a pet groomer does require training, but a lot of grooming salons will train new hires. If you can find a place that offers that service, then you can enter right into a grooming career as soon as you finish your on-the-job training. It’s a physically demanding job, but you get to see your clients leave looking their absolute best.

   Requirements to become a pet groomer: On-the-job training is the main requirement for becoming a pet groomer. There are also courses you can take on grooming, as well as certifications that can give you an advantage in getting a job as well.

   A bachelor’s degree in animal science, business management, or another field can be helpful in running a pet grooming business, however.

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4. Veterinary technician
   Average Annual Salary: $32,000

   While becoming a vet tech does require some education, it’s a job that you can step into right out of school. Your primary duties will be working with veterinarians and veterinary nurses to ensure your animal patients’ health.

   Requirements to become a veterinary technician: An associate’s degree from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association is usually required to become a veterinary technician.

   A bachelor’s degree can be helpful in getting more advanced roles as well. In addition, a veterinary technician certification is required to work as a veterinary technician in most states.

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5. Animal shelter worker
   Average Annual Salary: $33,000

   Most positions in an animal shelter don’t require any special training or education to get, meaning that this is a job you can get that helps animals without requiring a degree. Animal shelters need people to take care of the animals that live there, interact with potential adopters, and keep track of records.

   Sometimes a job at an animal shelter can be very difficult, as you’ll see a lot of animals in distress. You’ll even see people abandoning their loving pets. However, you’ll also have the chance to give these animals a second chance and help them to find a loving forever home.

   Requirements to become an animal shelter worker: For basic jobs at an animal shelter, such as a kennel attendant or receptionist, you won’t need a degree. If you’re looking to move into management or a specialist position, such as a dog trainer, then you’ll need more education and/or certification.

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Work from home jobs working with animals

Jobs that allow you to both work from home and work with animals are limited, but they do exist! If you want to be able to work with animals without leaving the comfort of your house, then here are some jobs that’ll appeal to you.

1. Pet sitter
   Average Annual Salary: $25,000

   You can run a doggie daycare or pet-sitting business from the comfort of your own home. You can offer boarding services where you’ll have a dog stay with you while their person is out of town. This industry is growing as more and more people have pets, meaning that it could turn from a side hustle into your day job.

   Requirements to become a pet sitter: While there are no hard and fast requirements to be a pet sitter, your clients are going to want to know that you have extensive experience taking care of the type of animals you’re caring for. Getting an animal CPR and first aid certification will also be a huge plus.

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2. Blogger
   Average Annual Salary: $41,048

   If you have some animal know-how and you’re a good writer, you can create your own online entity around animals and turn it into a career. This can be especially effective if you have some animal care credentials. Blogs about nutrition, training, and the amusing antics of your own pets can be moneymakers.

   Requirements to be a blogger: The only requirements to becoming a successful blogger is experience owning a pet, writing and grammatical skills, and an understanding of how to update a website and use social media.

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3. Artist
   Average Annual Salary: $72,000

   If you have artistic ability and love drawing animals, then it’s possible to turn that into a career. Artists can work from their own home or studio and sell their work online. There’s a lot of demand for pet portraits, meaning that if can get your artwork noticed, you can get clients to pay you for a drawing of their furry best friend.

   Requirements to become an artist: There aren’t any direct requirements to become an artist. Artistic ability is a must to be successful, but a degree in fine arts will help both in terms of training and credibility.

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4. Breeder
   Average Annual Salary: $42,000

   While this business can be tricky to get into, breeding animals is something you can do from your home. Many people can find success as dog breeders, but there are also purebred cats, sugar gliders, various reptiles, and small mammals that people keep as pets.

   Make sure to do your research both in terms of animal care and demand for pets in the area. You want to be sure that the animals you breed end up finding good homes and that you don’t end up with a plethora of pets you weren’t planning on.

   Requirements to become an animal breeder: There aren’t any education requirements for becoming an animal breeder, but an extensive knowledge of the animal breed you’re working with and of state breeding regulations is necessary.

5. Beekeeper
   Average Annual Salary: $40,000

   While not everyone can be a beekeeper from home, if you live in the right area, keeping hives is a great way to supplement your income – or even become a career in and of itself. Backyard hives are becoming more popular and easier to get, but you do have to consider whether you live in area that can support the needs of a beehive.

   Requirements to become a beekeeper: There aren’t any real requirements to start a hive in your backyard, however, you’re going to want to understand bee behavior and have the necessary equipment and knowledge to tend to them and harvest the honey.

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Other Jobs Working With Animals

There are myriad jobs out there that allow you to work with animals. Having animals be the focus of your career is something that a lot of people are interested in, but there are a wide range of career types that include that aspect.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but if none of the jobs listed above interested you, then here are a few other careers working with animals that you could pursue.

1. Dog trainer
   Average Annual Salary: $32,000

   Dog trainers spend most of their time working with dogs and their owners. If you want to forgo working with people almost entirely, there are services that board and train, meaning that you wouldn’t have to rely on the dog’s owner to do the training themselves.

   This career does require laying out lesson plans, understanding dog behavior, and being willing to make alterations to suit individual dogs. Some trainers will go to people’s homes for lessons, others work in pet stores, and some will be employed by a kennel or shelter.

   Requirements to become a dog trainer: There aren’t any actual requirements to be able to call yourself a dog trainer. However, it’s important to understand dog behavior and training methods. There are apprentice programs and getting a Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) is recommended.

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2. Zoo keeper
   Average Annual Salary: $31,016

   This job can be different at each zoo, so the pay rate and experience necessary can vary greatly. In some zoos, the zookeeper is responsible for the care and treatment of the animals and might need to have a degree. In others, a zookeeper can be little more than a tour guide.

   Requirements to become a zookeeper: A bachelor’s degree in animal science, zoology, or a life science is typically required to become a zookeeper. Some jobs only require an associate’s degree or job experience, but high-level positions usually require a degree and several years of experience.

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3. Animal control officer
   Average Annual Salary: $46,000

   While you may not interact with animals all the time, animal control officers are responsible for taking care of any animal-related problems in their community. They help find strays, capture threatening and feral animals, remove pests, and sometimes get kittens out of trees.

   It can be a difficult job at times, especially if you live in an area with dangerous, wild animals. Not all of your interactions are going to have a positive outcome, as sometimes you’ll be required to euthanize an injured or sick animal. However, other times you can end up saving someone’s best friend.

   Requirements to become an animal control officer: Usually, all that’s required to be an animal control officer is a high school diploma or GED and some experience with animals, but a degree in a related field will open up more opportunities. Some states require applicants to complete a certification course as well.

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4. Farrier
   Average Annual Salary: $29,000

   If you’ve been disappointed by the lack of horse related jobs on this list, then look no further. Farriers are skilled tradespeople who care for horse’s hooves. That means they have to understand horse anatomy, metalworking, and horse behavior. Their primary duties include cleaning, trimming, and shoeing horses.

   A starting farrier typically doesn’t make a whole lot of money, but if you can work into the racing world or the show horse business, you can make a few hundred thousand dollars a year keeping those magnificent horses on their toes.

   Requirements to become a farrier: Completing a farrier training program is necessary to becoming a farrier. Additional farrier association certificates and a degree in equine science or animal science can also be helpful.

5. Animal behaviorist

   Average Annual Salary: $33,000

   Animal behaviorists primarily work with pets – usually dogs – that display problematic behavior. This may be aggression, severe anxiety, or fearful reactions. Going to an animal behaviorist is often a last resort for owners, meaning that you’ll also have to work to assuage their fears.

   Being an animal behaviorist requires an extensive understanding of animal behavior and how to guide your furry clients into more acceptable responses. Behaviorists can have their own businesses or work for a kennel or animal shelter.

   Requirements to become an animal behaviorist: In order to be a behaviorist, you’ll likely need a master’s degree. You’ll usually get a postsecondary degree in biology or animal science, then get a master’s in behaviorism.

   In order to be a certified behaviorist, you also need two years of professional experience. That means that you’ll need to go through a training period working with another behaviorist. Once you’ve completed this, you can get the Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB) certification from the Animal Behavior Society (ABS).

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Jobs with animals FAQ

1. What should I study to work with animals?

   To work with animals, you should study subjects such as veterinary science, zoology, and environmental science. At a basic level, veterinary science will help you understand the anatomy and behavior of animals, zoology is useful for getting a genetic and evolutionary background of the animal kingdom, and environmental science is essential for understanding the natural habitats of wildlife as well as the application of sustainable agricultural practices.

   Depending on what type of work you want to do with animals and what type of animals you want to work with, courses in marine biology, farm management, conservation biology, and countless other fields relating to animal biology and ecology can all be useful gateways to a satisfying career working with animals.

2. Can I work with animals without a degree?

   Yes, you can work with animals without a degree. Jobs in dog walking, pet sitting, pet grooming, and training can all be run on a freelance basis or landed as an entry-level job without a college degree. Additionally, animal breeding doesn’t require a degree (although you will need to register with your state and other official bodies (e.g., the American Kennel Club, for dog breeding).

   There are also many positions for veterinary support and administrative staff that don’t require a college degree, especially if you have experience in customer service and/or administrative office work.

   And then there are creative jobs, like animal artists, photographers, and bloggers, which only require a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, dedication, and a commitment to making your clients happy.

3. What is the highest-paid job with animals?

   Veterinarian is the highest-paid job with animals. Veterinarians earn an average annual salary of $126,000, with the 90th percentile earning $322,000 a year. These high paychecks are the result of highly-specialized knowledge and skills. All vets need to complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM), which typically takes four years to complete (after finishing an undergraduate degree).

4. Is it hard to get a job at a zoo?

   Yes, it is hard to get a job at a zoo. Zoo jobs are in high demand, as many people interested in careers with animals see the experience of working with diverse and exotic creatures from around the globe as the be-all-and-end-all of their vocation. Not to mention that working in a zoo is difficult and often requires constant vigilance during long shifts, sometimes entirely outdoors.

   On top of that, zoo jobs don’t always pay that much, so the people who are willing to take those jobs are typically extraordinarily dedicated and overqualified.

Final Thoughts

The best thing about wanting to work with animals is that the world loves its critters. If you can think of a job that involves animals, it’s probably out there and someone is looking to hire. Or you can start your own business and be your own boss doing what you love.

There’s a lot of variety in the field of animal care, you could start in high school by walking or grooming dogs, go to college, train to become a veterinarian and make a lot of money providing veterinary care during the day. Then at night, or even when you retire, you could have a little kennel where you watch other people’s animals when they’re away.

For people who are drawn to animals and working with them, it’s usually more about their passion for critters than anything else. Since there are so many animal-related jobs to choose from, there’s sure to be one that makes work a joy.

Author

Kristin Kizer

Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.