Also called: Snake Milker, Venom Extraction Technician
Cares for venomous snakes, spiders, and scorpions and 'milks' their venom for antivenom and research.
Uses hooks and tongs to safely guide a rattlesnake to bite through a thin membrane on a collection cup, then freezes the venom. One mistake can be deadly, so safety routines are everything.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 2 years after high school. Years of experience with venomous animals; a biology degree helps.
Ways in: On-the-job training, 4-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Biology, Herpetology.
Growing about average. A tiny handful of US jobs.
Low risk for 10 years. Lab-made antivenoms may slowly reduce demand, but safely handling and milking venomous animals stays dangerous hands-on work.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Health science CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-2021.
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.