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What is a taxidermist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a taxidermist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $38.16 an hour? That's $79,367 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 2,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreTaxidermistUS Average
Salary
6.2

Avg. Salary $79,367

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
-

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 5.94%

Black or African American 4.46%

Hispanic or Latino 14.99%

Unknown 5.71%

White 68.19%

Gender

female 19.93%

male 80.07%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Taxidermist career paths

Key steps to become a taxidermist

  1. Explore taxidermist education requirements

    Most common taxidermist degrees

    High School Diploma

    33.3 %

    Bachelor's

    32.2 %

    Associate

    18.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific taxidermist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Elk57.84%
    Quality Customer Service42.16%
  3. Research taxidermist duties and responsibilities

    • Sketch or draw objects to be craft, fabricate patterns or templates.
    • Utilize tools and instruments like scissors and scalpels to remove the hide from the caracass.
    • Conceptualize and develop terrain models using Maya and partner with director and animators to correspond and produce effective shots.
    • Operate a CNC hotwire as well as a Frogmill machine.
  4. Prepare your taxidermist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your taxidermist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a taxidermist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable taxidermist resume templates

    Build a professional taxidermist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your taxidermist resume.
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
    Taxidermist Resume
  5. Apply for taxidermist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a taxidermist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first taxidermist job

Zippi

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Average taxidermist salary

The average taxidermist salary in the United States is $79,367 per year or $38 per hour. Taxidermist salaries range between $41,000 and $150,000 per year.

Average taxidermist salary
$79,367 Yearly
$38.16 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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