What Kind of Jobs Work with Animals?

Working with animals is a career choice involving a deep connection with pets, an interest in them and their way of life, and a desire to improve their lives. Responsibility is also a basic requirement for all workers in this field. If you decide to connect your career with animals, be prepared for complex study and internships, high demands, and difficult tasks. However, you will experience true happiness in caring for them, doing what you love, and communicating with them.

What jobs work with animals? Zoology and working with animals is a large industry that includes various specialists and levels of training. How to choose your career and which direction to move in? Read and learn about the opportunities!

Exploring Careers That Involve Working with Animals

The animal world is diverse: some people will connect their lives with discoveries and research, while others want to introduce animals into our society through training and exercise. In general, there are several main categories of “what jobs involve animals”:

• Veterinary and Healthcare. These specialists are engaged in treating, diagnosing, and vaccinating animals. This includes both regular cats and dogs, as well as livestock, stray animals, and wild ones. For example, veterinarians at a zoo specialize in wild species more.
• Training and behavior. Trainers and dog handlers prepare animals for socialization by participating in therapy with them or working with the police. For example, a dog handler must be present at a border checkpoint to monitor a sniffer dog.
• Research and audit. This group includes people who discover new species of bacteria, animals, and fishes, as well as analyze these species, and is the most popular field of what job studies animals. They research the danger of species extinction, mutations, the emergence of new animals, and so on.
• Media. This area is small, but one of the most interesting for many people. It includes specialists who help animals appear in the media: films, TV series, news, etc.
• Animal services. This category includes dog hotels, shelters, grooming salons, private dog handlers, and walking specialists. Their job is to keep animals safe and comfortable.
• Agriculture and Livestock Management. This field is common in industrial farms. However, zoos also need to control and increase the birth rate of their residents.

What are jobs that involve animals the most? Fields that work with animals are not always directly related to them. For example, some may love pets and work in the media to protect them, spreading the pet-friendly agenda and animal care awareness. Love of nature is what unites them.

What Jobs Involve Animals in Daily Activities?

Staying active at work is an essential point for many. Combining a love of animals and a desire to spend days outside the office is easier than it seems. These professions are perfect for you if you do not like to sit in one place:

• Veterinary Technician. Your task is to be an assistant to the veterinarian, be responsible for the technical part of the process, participate in operations, and conduct examinations.
• Animal Shelter Worker. Some of these jobs are volunteer work, but they are a great stepping stone to a career. Take care of animals, examine them, socialize them, and train them to find their new home faster.
• Animal Trainer. This is the most popular answer to what you call someone who takes care of animals. Your duties will be similar to those of a shelter worker but on a more professional level. Train animals, correct their behavior, recognize triggers and problem areas, and adapt them to the social environment.
• Wildlife Biologist. Study animals in their natural habitat! Scuba dive, explore ecosystems, film and study the lives of packs and lion prides, gain new knowledge, and share it with the world!

Active professions are engaging, exciting, and varied! Of course, many require extended training and careful preparation, but this will make your knowledge a strong point.

High-Paying Jobs That Work With Animals

Money is most people's main motivation to work, and the desire to combine earnings and hobbies can lead you to excellent fees. Working with animals can also be highly paid. Here are the answers for what careers involve animals that are worth paying attention to:

• Veterinarian. Career growth is one of the advantages of this profession. You spend a lot of time with animals and can become a head doctor or a clinic manager.
• Zoo director. Manages the operations of a zoo, including staff oversight, animal welfare programs, and budgeting. Of course, you will spend less time with animals than a regular employee, but you will earn more.
• Marine Biologist. This specialty is narrowly focused, but companies and research centers offer high salaries to candidates. Your task is to study aquatic animals. Since international programs often fund research, specialists receive a good salary.
• Animal Nutritionist. A great option if you want to work for a company or for yourself. Research the eating habits of animals and select food or vitamins. These workers are also required for the production of animal feed.

What jobs with animals pay well and will be interesting? Most often, higher-paying jobs require less attention to the animals themselves and more on communication with the team, reporting, and documentation. However, these positions usually appear after many years of experience, so you will have time to connect your fate with your favorite animals.

Roles and Responsibilities in Animal Care Careers

The basic rule: to work with living things, you have to love them. This applies to children, animals, and even plants. However, working with animals also involves a number of other responsibilities.

First, you must wish them love, well-being, and joy. Letting go of an animal you have become attached to can be difficult and mentally challenging. Second, you must remain professional: accurately assessing the health of an animal and the treatment it requires is a veterinarian’s first priority. Regardless of the specific role, every profession requires a love for animals, attention to detail, and responsibility.

Educational Paths for Careers Involving Animals

Educational requirements of what careers allow you to work with animals vary depending on the field and level of specialization. For example, veterinarians, like other doctors, often study longer, completing a master's degree and an internship. Assistants and technicians may only need specialized courses.

Working in the field of zoology requires at least a college degree. If you want to do research, then there is no ceiling in your education: the more scientific degrees, the better.

Many professions related to animals are tied to volunteering. For example, if you have minimal education but you show yourself well in practice and bring results, you may be offered paid work, but you need to understand what kind of jobs work with animals. 

Unique and Uncommon Jobs That Involve Animals

Working with animals frequently goes beyond the classic understanding of the profession. They show us a new side of the world and teach us to love in a new way. However, even in this area, there are even more fascinating specializations. We have highlighted these professions as especially interesting:

• Animal Behaviorist. One of the types of researchers who work with animal instincts, behavior, and habits. Usually, they collect information in reserves and work on them in laboratories. In addition, this profession is also useful for domestic animals.
• Wildlife Rehabilitator. These specialists take care of injured or wounded animals living in the wild. They treat them and help them adapt back to the world. This profession requires special licenses and extensive scientific and practical experience.
• Canine Search-and-Rescue Handler. This profession is active and less demanding than others. Your task is to train and accompany a dog that is looking for lost people. Most often, such workers are needed at mountain resorts, national parks, forests, and so on. 
• Wildlife photographer. What are jobs that work with animals in the wildlife? A mixture of extreme and aesthetics. Perfect for those who want to show their talents and skills in the wild. Many photographers work freelance, taking orders from the media, but large companies hire several photographers to work with different types of animals.

Of course, the level of training and education required for these professions is much higher than for more popular ones. These are narrowly focused specialists who usually work in one company, researching and understanding their favorite business. However, there is no career limit to what job works with animals, and you can always try!

How FlatRover Supports Animal Care Professionals

FlatRover is a solution for pet sitters who want to combine their skills and gain new experience worldwide. Our website will help you travel, meet new people, live in different places, and sit with pets. Here's why you should choose us:

• Convenient questionnaire. Fill out the information about yourself so that owners can learn more about you with our questions and links to your socials.
• Rating and reviews. They are formed on the basis of communication with the owner, previous experience of other sitters and their opinions. Travel safely!
• Quick search by category. Do you want to live in a house by the sea or in the mountains? Or come to a new city and take care of a cute dog? Now it's possible with FlatRover!

You can travel alone or with a partner, take care of different types of pets, help around the house, and just relax! Meet new pets or find a pet sitter for yours with FlatRover.

FAQ

What qualifications are needed for a career working with animals?

It depends on what profession you choose. For example, a veterinarian requires education, experience, and certifications. A groomer will only need experience working with animals and training. Pet sitters are chosen based on their enthusiasm and experience working with pets.

What careers work with animals offer the best pay and benefits?

It depends on the type of animal, where you live, and your enthusiasm. On average, veterinarians, dog handlers, private trainers, and zoo workers are the best paid and are great for animal lovers. Another popular field is biology and research.

What are some entry-level jobs that involve animals?

If you are just starting out on this path and want to know what jobs include animals, we recommend looking at entry-level professions. A great idea would be a veterinary assistant, a pet store assistant, a farm worker (for example, ostriches or rabbits), a volunteer at an animal shelter, or a dog walker. 

How can I transition to a career that involves animals?

If you already have an education, you can complete a master's degree or take advanced training courses. Attend forums, lectures, and workshops to meet more people in this field. You can also volunteer to gain additional experience.

What are some challenges faced in jobs working with animals?

Working with animals can be more difficult mentally and physically than working with people. If you decide to try yourself in these professions, be prepared for a low starting salary, constant training, and the risk of injury.