Careers for animals: What’s out there?
“I love animals, so, I want to be a vet when I grow up.”
Many people have a love for animals. Yet getting a sense of how to turn that passion into a career can be difficult. For most people, it’s simply hard to see what careers are out there. Like so many others, when I was younger I wanted to be a veterinarian. That was one of the only animal careers I was exposed to. I didn’t know what other careers with animals there were for some time.
Now, I have worked in veterinary offices, universities, sanctuaries, animal shelters, and accredited zoos. I’ve seen firsthand that there are many ways to put a passion for animals to work.
Below is (the beginning!) of a list of those careers. Actually, below is a list of careers for animals. You won’t see jobs that focus on harming or exploiting animals. Share this list with the young (or older!) people in your life looking for ways to work with, and for, animals.
Accredited Zoo, Aquarium, or Sanctuary Careers
River otter interacting with enrichment at Prague Zoo. Enrichment strategies are developed by Enrichment Managers and Zookeepers, often designed to stimulate natural behaviors. The effect enrichment has on behavior and wellbeing may be studied by Animal Welfare Scientists. Photo by Petr Hamerník, License CC BY-SA 4.0
Animal Caretaker / Zookeeper
Aquarist
Behavioral Husbandry Manager
Curator
Enrichment Manager or Technician
Research Scientist
Wildlife / Zoo Animal Welfare Scientist
Wildlife / Zoo Veterinarian
Wildlife / Zoo Veterinary Technician
Wildlife Rehabilitator
Zoo / Aquarium / Sanctuary Director
Companion Animal Careers
This dog at an adoption event may have been evaluated by a Behavior Specialist to determine whether he was behaviorally suitable for adoption, examined by a Companion Animal Veterinarian with the help of a Companion Animal Veterinary Technician to provide veterinary care and and neuter him, and an Adoption Specialist may talk with a family to determine whether they are the dog and family are the right fit for each other. Photo by Cierra Voelkl on Unsplash.
Adoption Specialist
Behavior Specialist
Companion Animal / Small Animal Veterinarian
Companion Animal / Small Animal Veterinary Technician
Companion Animal Welfare Scientist
Customer Care / Receptionist at Veterinary Office
Dog / Cat Sitter (Employee or Business Owner)
Dog / Cat Trainer (Employee or Business Owner)
Enrichment Designer / Retailer
Groomer (Employee or Business Owner)
Shelter Director
Veterinary Behaviorist
Laboratory Animal Welfare Careers
Animals involved in research often have their welfare, or wellbeing, considered by an on-site Laboratory Animal Welfare Coordinator who is responsible for making sure all applicable animal welfare laws are followed. Their daily care may be provided by a Laboratory Animal Care Technician. In some research facilities, a Laboratory Animal Research Assistant may work with the animals to train them and keep them comfortable. A Laboratory Animal Welfare Scientist may research what kind of housing or training works best for the animals. Photo by Andre Mouton on Unsplash
Behavioral Husbandry Manager
Enrichment Manager or Technician
Laboratory Animal Care Technician
Laboratory Animal Research Assistant
Laboratory Animal Veterinarian
Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technician
Laboratory Animal Welfare Scientist
Laboratory Animal Welfare Coordinator
Principle Investigator
Animal Advocacy Careers
Data Analyst
Program Director
Survey & Evaluation Expert
Agricultural Animal Careers
Some farms have high welfare standards. A Small Farmer may be responsible for the daily care of goats, for example. An Agricultural Animal Veterinarian may visit the farm to check the health of the animals. An Agricultural Animal Welfare Scientist may study the behavior and health of goats across several farms to understand what type of farm conditions support the best welfare. Photo by Oytun Babür Özen on Unsplash
Agricultural / Large Animal Veterinarian
Agricultural Animal Welfare Scientist
Agricultural Animal Welfare Specialist/Coordinator
Small Farmer
Industry-General Animal Careers
Animal Nutritionist
Branding / Social Media Expert
Content Writer
Development / Fundraising Expert
Lawyer Specializing in Animal Law
Learning / Outreach Expert
Marketing & Communications Expert
Find your path
As you can see, there are many ways to put your passion for animals to work! The careers above vary in the amount of training they require, how prevalent they are, and how much they pay. One of the best ways to learn more about a career option is to talk to someone in that role. You can find people by searching on LinkedIn, searching websites of professional organizations or companies, attending virtual career panels, or talking with your school’s career center. Once you find someone to speak to, have your questions prepared and be respectful of their time. If you decide not to work for animals for your primary job, know that there are many ways to support animals through volunteering and part-time efforts. Many organizations that work for animals rely on a dedicated volunteer force.
Learn more
Great mentorship can make a world of difference as you navigate a career with animals. This post provides some guidance around finding and building mentoring relationships. You can also follow me on X for tweets about job openings working for animals around the world.
