Working with Animals Careers--Animal Training
How can a Psychology degree lead to becoming an Animal Trainer
Some individuals with a Psychology degree decide to become animal trainers. They will train various types of animals to follow commands in everyday interactions or during performances. This can include getting animals used to human contact so that an animal will behave a certain way when specific commands are given. Keep in mind that animals can be trained for various tasks: protection, detection, companionship, or entertainment. Many animal trainers work with land animals (e.g., dogs), but you may become a marine animal trainer. Marine animal trainers typically need to earn bachelor's degrees in marine biology or a related field. It is important to keep in mind that with your psychology degree a career in animal training is a natural fit, because you would have learned critical operant (instrumental) conditioning technques (e.g., reinforcment) that are so important to animal training.
Salary Information
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median yearly income for an animal trainer at $29,000.
Click here to read important steps for Working with Animals Careers with a Bachelor's Degree.
Click here for valuable insight into becoming an animal trainer.
Other links on explorecareersinpsychology.org
Click here to return to homepage of explorecareersinpsychology.org
Click here to return to the Careers by Category page.
Click here to return to the Working with Animals Careers page.
Click on the links below to read about other Animal Care and Research Careers that only require a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology:
Animal Care and Research Careers--Research Lab Assistant
Animal Care and Research Careers--Wildlife Care and Conservation
Animal Care and Research Careers--Veterinary Technician
Click on the links below to read about other Animal Care and Research careers that require a graduate degree:
Animal Care and Research Careers--Master's Degree in Psychology
Animal Care and Research Careers--PhD Degree in Psychology
Animal Care and Research Careers--Veterinarian (DVM)