by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Animal Training covers Animal Training. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach And Exercise Animals For Leisure, Sport, Show, And Professional Purposes. Includes Instruction In Animal Psychology, Health, And Safety; Human-Animal Interaction; Learning And Behavior Styles Associated With Different Breeds And Species; And The Technical And Pedagogical Aspects Of Training Animals For Such Specific Functions As Obedient Household Pets, Performing Show Animals, Animal Athletes, Caregiving (E.g., Seeing-Eye Dogs), Search And Rescue, And Police/security Work. Read on to learn the essential details every animal training major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering animal training programs.
Across the country, animal training is a popular field of study, with 172 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Animal Training Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for animal training students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of animal training programs later in this article.
Programs in Animal Training build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations animal training graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a animal training program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a animal training major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several animal training degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 55 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 115 |
People currently working in careers related to animal training tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 17.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 16.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.8% |
| Master’s degree | 8.6% |
| Some college courses | 6.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in animal training careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in animal training can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to animal training.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to animal training.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Animal Trainers | 205,161 | 12.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of animal training graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,658 |
| 4 years | $29,442 |
| 5 years | $34,298 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for animal training graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers animal training grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Animal Trainers | $32,987 |
With 5 different animal training programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased animal training school rankings to help you.
Those considering animal training, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Equestrian/Equine Studies | 658 |
| Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming | 519 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Other | 65 |
| Taxidermy/Taxidermist | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
