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The differences between pen riders and wranglers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pen rider has an average salary of $50,738, which is higher than the $34,274 average annual salary of a wrangler.
The top three skills for a pen rider include stray animals, yard maintenance and computer system. The most important skills for a wrangler are tack, CPR, and guest safety.
A pen rider looks after a large herd of cattle, usually in a ranch setting, by monitoring and moving the cattle in a pen. Modern pen riders are trained animal care specialists who must also be excellent on horseback. Pen riders monitor animals for sickness or distress and isolate the sick from a herd for care. They are also responsible for moving herds through different pens for feeding, veterinary services, milking, and any other farm operation.
A wrangler has different responsibilities according to their place or industry of employment. There are wranglers who specialize in handling and training various animals such as horses, dogs, cattle, and even snakes. Their responsibilities often include preparing food and feeding animals, cleaning barns or cages, teaching tricks, and bathing animals. There are also instances when a wrangler may work for private companies or film productions to handle potentially dangerous animals or help them adjust to their surroundings.
Pen riders and wranglers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pen Rider | Wrangler | |
| Average salary | $50,738 | $34,274 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $106,000 | Between $17,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Pikesville, MD |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Automattic |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a pen rider and a wrangler in terms of educational background:
| Pen Rider | Wrangler | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Animal Science | Animal Science |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pen riders' and wranglers' demographics:
| Pen Rider | Wrangler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% | Male, 37.7% Female, 62.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.1% Asian, 1.8% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |