If you love animals and feel like a career change is on the horizon and you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path, then we’ve come up with a few jobs that might tickle your fancy! Let’s get started.
Wildlife Rehabilitator
If you love the great outdoors and ensuring that animals in the wild are happy and healthy in their natural habitat, then a career as a wildlife rehabilitator may be just the path you’re looking for. Wildlife rehabilitators care for and treat animals that have been displaced, orphaned, or injured. The end goal is to release them back into environments they belong in, but if this isn’t possible, then the animals will be used for educational purposes while staying in a safe, suitable, and controlled environment. The average annual salary for this job is $21,000.
Guide Dog Trainer
If you love all the good boys and good girls as well as helping humans, then consider the job of a guide dog trainer. These trainers work with puppies to teach them everything they need to know to become a guide dog for people with vision loss. Once the good boy or good girl is trained, guide dog trainers then work with their new humans to ensure they’re a good fit. The average annual salary for this job is $25,000.
Animal Nutritionist
This career combines a number of things other than just working with animals; as an animal nutritionist, you study animal behavior and economics, as well as the dietary needs of animals in captivity to make decisions about various animals’ dietary needs. It’s important to note that animal nutritionists have to spend a lot of their time in a lab, so if you’re looking to be more hands-on with animals, this may not be the job for you. The average annual salary for this job is $62,000.
Animal Cruelty Investigator
This career requires a special kind of person to be subjected to animal cruelty cases, but at the end of the day, you’re the voice for those that don’t have one. The average starting annual salary for this job is $32,000.
Animal Shelter Manager
Animal shelter managers are responsible for working with animals, providing a safe shelter for homeless animals, overseeing adoptions, as well as raising funds to ensure the shelter has enough food, toys, treats, and amenities for all of the animals in their care. The annual average salary for this job is between $39,000 and $43,000. (Plus big bonuses in the form of love from each and every animal!)