Animal Behavior Research Technician

Runs behavior tests on lab animals to study learning, memory, and emotions.

A day in the life

Sets up mazes and video cameras, runs mice through tests, and scores their behavior from recordings.

Pay over a career

Starting

$33k

Typical

$42k

High

$55k

Estimate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in psychology, biology, or neuroscience.

Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Psychology, Biology, Neuroscience.

Outlook

Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). Estimate.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI video tracking now scores animal behavior automatically; fewer techs, mostly to set up tests and handle animals.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP Psychology, Biology, Statistics.

• Kennel helper at a vet or animal shelter
• Brain Bee competition
• Science-fair animal behavior project

Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4021.

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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.