You enjoy working with animals, you absolutely love them but you can’t think of what you can do with them! Well, there are so many ways of combining paid jobs with your love for animals. Though the salary will not be rocket high but then you are getting paid for doing what you love which is fair enough.

 Now let’s talk about the prospective careers:

  • Farming and Ranching: Farmers and Ranchers are people who run establishments which produce livestock, dairy products and crops. Ranchers raise sheep, cattle and ostriches and other animals for leather, food and by products. Farmers and Ranchers are most often raised the land itself, they combine education with experience and might attend colleges in order to attain a formal degree in Animals Science, Agriculture etc. Graduates of such courses get jobs on farms or ranch and they don’t even have to be the owner. Salary will be somewhere around $12,000-$16,000 a year approximately.
  • Animal Breeding and Handling: People who love animals and are also good at doing business can open up small business like pet stores. Degree in Animal business or Animal science can help you in becoming the manager or owner of a pet store. And then of course if you don’t have any formal degree you can still get jobs as a kennel worker or clerk.Animal breeding/handling can also be a great job prospect for people who want to work from home or those who want to make it their second job. For example, raising cats, dogs, purebred horses etc. However there are other issues and expenses which have to be taken into consideration. It must be ensured that animals receive adequate immunizations and veterinary care and get the attention and love which animals need.
  • Animal Caretaker: They assist in the training, companionship and grooming of animals in kennels, pet spas and other types of temporary places. When working for companies animal caretakers might earn somewhere around $30,000 a year.
  • Marine Biologist: Marine biologist is a person who works by observing, studying, managing and preserving marine organisms. It is not necessary to get a formal degree in marine biology. Basic science like biology, chemistry and physics and even engineering can help you in becoming a marine biologist. You can always do minor courses in or related to marine biology for a better understanding. The median salary of a marine biologist is $45,000.
  • Veterinary Pathologist: It is one of the interesting as well as little complicated jobs with animals. A veterinary pathologist studies the development, results and scientific causes of diseases in animals. Median salary is somewhere around $120,000 and $160,000.
  • Animal Therapist: They study the behaviour patterns in animals and then try to improve social, physical and mental issues within humans through human/animal companionship by applying various techniques. Median annual salary around $60,000 to $180,000.
  • Behavioural Animal Trainer: They teach animals how to respond to different types of situations and stimuli. This type of training might be conducted for protection, detection, entertainment or companionship purposes. The median salary is around $36,000 a year and gradually increases with the years of experience.
  • Zoo Directors: Zoo directors direct and organize the various zoo operations. This type of job involves things like preparing the annual budget of the zoo to organizing ways of special care and needs of animals. Starting salary is around $28,000 a year which might gradually go up to $36,000 after an experience of at least 5 years.
  • Animal Welfare Lawyer: They are practitioner of law with a special focus on dealing with animals. Cases can be related to anti-cruelty to veterinary malpractice. Median annual earnings are around $94,930 a year.

Wondering How To Get Started?

Volunteering is a wonderful way of getting into the mode of working with animals and preparing yourself for jobs with animals. This helps you in gaining life skills and experience and will also make a good impact on your CV and makes you stand out in the ever competitive job market.

It might help you in deciding whether you are suited for feeding animals at zoo or a veterinary pathologist. You can also get qualifications in animal management like NVQs.

It’s Time For Some Tips

  • Try to get as much work experience as you can as it will help you in understanding your field of interest and most importantly, disinterest.
  • Seek professional guidance and help wherever required.
  • Never underestimate your skills.