Occupations/39-2011.00
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.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
19%
More resilient
Human characteristics
71%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
27%
More resilient
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
- Mostly human
Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
- Mostly human
Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
The tasks we can read here lean on people, judgment, or hands-on work. The AI risk number is still this job’s rank against other occupations.
Core tasks
- 01Cue or signal animals during performances.
- 02Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
- 03Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
- 04Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
- 05Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
- 06Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks2.57
- Degree of automation1.34
- Time sitting1.86
- Originality (ability)3.12
- Conflict situations2.97
- Hands-on objects/tools3.15
- Outdoors / weather4.19
- Disease exposure1.73
- Decision freedom4.78
Top abilities
- Problem Sensitivity3.75
- Oral Expression3.62
- Oral Comprehension3.38
- Speech Clarity3.25
- Information Ordering3.25
- Speech Recognition3.12
- Originality3.12
- Fluency of Ideas3.12
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension2.88
- Active Listening3.12
- Writing2.88
- Speaking3.50
- Mathematics1.88
- Science1.75
- Critical Thinking3.38
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies3.50
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
6 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND · Public | Animal Training 01.0505 | $10,800 | 83% | 66% | 1 yr $33,993 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 01.05 |
Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN · Public | Animal Training 01.0505 | $9,800 | 71% | 61% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 01.05 |
Ridgewater College Willmar, MN · Public | Animal Training 01.0505 | $6,100 | 100% | 36% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MN · Public | Animal Training 01.0505 | $6,000 | 100% | 37% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Iowa State University Ames, IA · Public | Animal Training 01.0505 | $10,400 | 90% | 77% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA · Public | Animal Training 01.0505 | $17,400 | 64% | 83% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 01.05 |