Grooming, training, walking, boarding and caring for the pets that families treat like family.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Veterinarian: A doctor for animals who diagnoses illness, performs surgery and keeps pets healthy. Typical pay $126k.
Veterinary Behaviorist: A veterinarian who specializes in treating serious behavior problems in animals, like aggression and anxiety. Typical pay $140k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Pet Care Business Owner: Owns a dog daycare, boarding resort, grooming salon or pet-care franchise. Typical pay $90k.
Film & TV Animal Trainer: Trains dogs, cats, birds and other animals to perform on cue for movies, TV and commercials. Typical pay $70k.
Detection Dog Trainer & Handler: Trains dogs to sniff out bombs, drugs, bedbugs, missing people or even diseases. Typical pay $60k.
Mobile Grooming Business Owner: Owns a grooming van that drives to clients' homes to bathe, trim and style pets. Typical pay $65k.
Canine Behavior Consultant: Helps owners solve serious dog behavior problems like aggression, fear and separation anxiety. Typical pay $58k.
Starter: fastest way in
Pet Groomer: Bathes, brushes, trims and styles dogs and cats at grooming salons, pet stores and vet clinics, keeping each animal calm and safe. Typical pay $37k.
Dog Trainer: Teaches dogs obedience and good manners, and teaches owners how to work with them. Typical pay $39k.
Service Dog Trainer: Trains dogs to help people with disabilities: guiding people who are blind, alerting to seizures or supporting veterans with PTSD. Typical pay $45k.
Dog Walker: Walks dogs for owners who are at work or traveling, through apps like Rover or their own business, and sends owners updates and photos. Typical pay $30k.
Pet Sitter: Cares for pets in their own homes while owners travel. Typical pay $30k.
Kennel Attendant: Feeds, exercises and cleans up after animals at kennels, daycares and shelters. Typical pay $33k.
Pet Photographer: Photographs pets for families, shelters, breeders and pet brands. Typical pay $40k.
Aquarium Maintenance Technician: Sets up and maintains fish tanks for homes, offices, restaurants and doctors' offices. Typical pay $42k.
Dog Daycare & Boarding Manager: Runs a dog daycare or pet boarding resort: staff, safety, and happy clients. Typical pay $42k.
Canine Hydrotherapist: Helps injured, older, or overweight dogs exercise in therapy pools and underwater treadmills. Typical pay $40k.
Dog Sports Instructor: Teaches owners and dogs sports like agility, dock diving, and flyball. Typical pay $38k.
Pet Treat Baker: Bakes and decorates healthy treats and birthday cakes for dogs, selling them in a shop, at markets or online. Typical pay $38k.
Pet Fence Installer: Buries the wire for hidden electronic dog fences, sets up the system, and trains the dog and family so the pet stays safely in the yard. Typical pay $45k.
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.