# Animal Trainers

> Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact, and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-trainers
- SOC code: 39-2011.00
- Career family: Personal care and service
- Median annual pay: $39,990 (10th percentile $29,600, 90th percentile $75,490)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.2%
- Openings a year: 6,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RSC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 92 |
| Investigative (I) | 22 |
| Artistic (A) | 13 |
| Social (S) | 44 |
| Enterprising (E) | 18 |
| Conventional (C) | 33 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 78/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 76/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 75/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 73/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 71/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 71/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 71/100)
- Getting Information (importance 67/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 67/100)

## Skills

Instructing, Learning Strategies, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Psychology, Administration and Management, English Language, Sales and Marketing, Administrative, Personnel and Human Resources, Biology, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Agility Instructor, Animal Handler, Animal Trainer, Bronc Breaker, Bronc Buster, Canine Handler, Canine Service Teacher, Cat Groomer, Dog Groomer, Dog Handler

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0105) (CIP 0105, 76 colleges)
- Anthrozoology (CIP 3034, 5 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Johnson & Wales University-Providence](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johnson-wales-university-providence-1346) | Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | not reported | $47,871 | not reported |
| [The University of Findlay](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-findlay-2754) | Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | $31,521 | $46,301 | $26,777 |
| [Midway University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/midway-university-1697) | Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | not reported | $45,192 | $22,500 |
| [Centenary University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/centenary-university-450) | Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | $31,067 | $40,047 | not reported |
| [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colorado-state-university-fort-collins-644) | Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | $37,077 | $39,595 | $13,000 |
| [West Texas A & M University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/west-texas-a-m-university-3212) | Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | $24,185 | $37,996 | not reported |
| [William Woods University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/william-woods-university-3279) | Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | not reported | $33,757 | $25,000 |

## Related careers

- [Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-caretakers): $35,360 median pay
- [Animal Breeders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-breeders): $51,130 median pay
- [Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers): $38,150 median pay
- [Animal Control Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-control-workers): $45,660 median pay
- [Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/farmworkers-farm-ranch-and-aquacultural-animals): $36,670 median pay
- [Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/exercise-trainers-and-group-fitness-instructors): $47,160 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.