Also called: Hotwalker, Stable Hand
Cares for horses daily: feeding, grooming, bathing, and cleaning stalls.
Grooms start before sunrise, mucking stalls, wrapping legs, and walking horses to cool down after workouts. Show and racing grooms travel with horses. It's hard work and a classic entry point into the horse world.
Based on BLS animal caretakers, May 2024 estimates.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
No formal education, about 0 years after high school. No education required; you learn feeding, grooming, bathing and stall care on the job at a barn, racetrack or show stable.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Equine Science.
Growing much faster than average (about 11% over 10 years). Animal caretakers overall grow much faster than average.
Low risk for 10 years. Feeding, grooming and caring for horses daily is hands-on animal care.
Age 16+. One way to start: Ask at boarding, show or racing barns for barn help; racetracks also need a state groom license (16+)
Classes: Animal science or FFA, Biology, Physical education.
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.