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Job outlook for marine mammal trainers in the United States
Are marine mammal trainer jobs in demand?
Marine mammal trainer job and salary trends over time
Marine mammal trainer jobs over time
Marine mammal trainer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 430 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 404 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 449 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 403 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 389 | 0.00% |
Average marine mammal trainer salary over time
Marine mammal trainer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,589 | $17.11 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $34,358 | $16.52 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $33,071 | $15.90 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $32,608 | $15.68 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | $31,265 | $15.03 | +4.1% |
Marine mammal trainer jobs by state
Most common states for marine mammal trainers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 224 | 8% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 73 | 8% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 397 | 7% |
| 4 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 308 | 7% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 238 | 7% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 227 | 7% |
| 7 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 190 | 7% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 71 | 7% |
| 9 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 774 | 6% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 477 | 6% |
| 11 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 432 | 6% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 384 | 6% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 326 | 6% |
| 14 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 257 | 6% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 83 | 6% |
| 16 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 45 | 6% |
| 17 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 610 | 5% |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 315 | 5% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 223 | 5% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 41 | 5% |
Most common cities for marine mammal trainers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $39,573 |
| 2 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $29,632 |
Marine Mammal Trainer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of marine mammal trainer experts
International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association
What experience really stands out on Marine Mammal Trainer resumes?
Michael Hunt: When looking for a paid position as a zoological professional, it is advantageous for an applicant to include relevant animal handling experience on their resume. Depending on the individual candidate's background, this might include previously-held volunteer positions and internships, or other experience that showcases hands-on animal husbandry skills. Successful candidates are often members of professional organizations like the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA), and include that information as part of their application.
What Marine Mammal Trainer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Hunt: It is uncommon for an entry-level applicant's resume to make it through a zoo's human resources filter without at least one animal-related internship. Most zoos and aquariums offer internship programs for college students looking to pursue a career in zoology or animal training. Although these programs are offered year-round, at some locations, the internship "season" is typically in spring and summer. Internships are generally competitive and require a comprehensive application and interview process. Interested students can learn more about current internships and internship postings by visiting the website of the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA) at www.imata.org. Additionally, IMATA has historically offered informative career-focused workshops and a job fair at their international conferences; the 50th annual IMATA conference will be held in Chicago, IL in spring 2022.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Marine Mammal Trainers in the next 3-5 years?
Michael Hunt: Advances in technology have allowed caregivers and veterinarians to provide the animals in their charge with cutting edge preventative medicine; this is true in both small animal hospitals and in zoological settings. While it is challenging to pinpoint one emerging technology that will become more prevalent in the near future, it is safe to say that applicants who are tech-savvy could be well positioned as institutions migrate away from antiquated analog processes.