Also called: Obedience Trainer, CPDT-KA
Teaches dogs (and their owners) manners, obedience, and tricks.
Runs a puppy class on Saturday morning, does private lessons teaching a leash-puller to walk nicely, and coaches an agility team in the evening.
Estimate based on BLS animal trainers (median about $38,000, May 2024).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. No degree required; certification (CPDT-KA) and mentorship help.
Ways in: Self-taught, Certification, Apprenticeship. Training cost: Under $15k.
Growing much faster than average (about 8% over 10 years). Much faster than average with booming pet ownership.
Low risk for 10 years. Apps and videos teach basics, but most people still pay a person to train their dog hands-on; demand is growing.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply for dog trainer jobs at PetSmart or Petco; they put new trainers through paid training
Classes: Psychology, Biology, Business or entrepreneurship, Agriscience (FFA).
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.