Careers for people who love animals include veterinary assistant, dog groomer, dog trainer, shelter worker, veterinary technician, zookeeper, wildlife biologist and veterinarian. Several start with no degree, while veterinary medicine takes a doctorate and a license. Most animal jobs also involve a lot of people: owners, coworkers and the public. Expect hard days alongside the rewarding ones, so test the work before you commit.
Loving animals versus working with them
Animal work is physical, often messy and sometimes sad. Clinics see sick and injured animals, shelters handle neglect cases, and euthanasia is part of veterinary practice. Many animal jobs are also modestly paid compared with the training involved. None of this should scare you off, but people who last tend to know it going in and lean on coworkers who understand.
Animal careers grouped by training
No degree: learn on the job
- Veterinary assistant: Restraining animals, cleaning and helping the team; a common first step toward vet tech or vet school.
- Shelter or kennel worker: Daily care, feeding and adoptions, with plenty of volunteers to coordinate.
- Dog groomer: Grooming school or an apprenticeship under an experienced groomer; most states do not license groomers.
- Dog trainer: Usually learned by working under an experienced trainer, with voluntary professional credentials available.
- Farrier: Shoeing and trimming horse hooves, learned in a short school or an apprenticeship; very physical work.
Certificate, academy or associate degree
- Veterinary technician: An associate degree from an accredited program, a national exam and a state credential in most states. See how to become a veterinary technician.
- Animal control officer: Agency training on the job; the work mixes animal rescue with enforcement and public contact.
- Police K9 handler: Experienced officers apply for K9 units after years on patrol. See how to become a police officer.
Bachelor’s degree
- Zookeeper: Most hold a degree in biology, zoology or animal science, and volunteer or intern experience is what sets candidates apart.
- Wildlife biologist: Field and lab work on wild populations; research roles often need a master’s.
- Animal scientist: Nutrition, breeding and health of farm animals, often with agricultural employers.
Graduate degree and license
- Veterinarian: A four-year doctorate in veterinary medicine, a national licensing exam and a state license. See how to become a veterinarian.
- Marine biologist: Field and lab research careers usually need a master’s or doctorate.
- Animal behaviorist: Applied and research behavior roles typically require graduate study.
If you are picking a major, read what you can do with a biology degree and an environmental science degree, along with the college majors guide. Our career paths hub covers related fields, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook lists pay and outlook.
How to test the fit
- Volunteer at a shelter or rescue for at least three months, including some unglamorous shifts.
- Ask a local clinic whether you can shadow a veterinarian or vet tech for a day.
- Get a part-time job at a kennel, daycare or grooming shop; our guide to teen job ideas has more.
- Use informational interviews to ask vets, techs and zookeepers what surprised them about the job.
- If you are aiming for vet school, keep a log of animal and clinical hours from the start; programs ask for them.
Planning for a competitive path
Veterinary school and zookeeping are competitive, so it helps to have a plan B that still involves animals, such as vet tech, research or shelter management. If you are in high school, volunteering and science classes are the best early moves. If you are already working, changing careers into animal work often starts with weekend volunteering.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps you test animal careers through volunteering and part-time work, plan science courses and applications, track experience hours, and stay steady through a long path like vet school. Mentors are not admissions counselors, credentialed career counselors or licensing experts; they help you plan and follow through. See mentoring for high school students and our career and education mentoring.
Related
- Career path guides
- How to become a veterinarian
- Careers for people who like working outdoors
- Careers for people who like helping
- Careers for People Who Like Technology, by Training Route
- Careers for Introverts: Good Fits by Training Route
Common questions
What animal jobs do not need a degree?
Veterinary assistant, shelter worker, dog groomer, dog trainer and farrier are open without a degree. Vet tech usually needs an associate degree.
What is the difference between a vet tech and a vet assistant?
Vet techs complete an accredited program and usually hold a state credential, so they can do more clinical tasks. Assistants train on the job and support the team.
How hard is it to become a zookeeper?
It is competitive. Most zookeepers have a related degree and plenty of volunteer or internship experience with animals.
Do I have to be good at science to work with animals?
For veterinary, biology and zoo careers, yes, science matters. Grooming, training and shelter work rely more on hands-on skill and patience.
Get started
Love animals and want a realistic plan to work with them? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.