Animal Training: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Animal Training programs equip students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to develop effective, ethical, and science-based training strategies for a wide range of animal species. This interdisciplinary field emphasizes understanding animal behavior, cognitive development, and physiological well-being to support meaningful human-animal partnerships across diverse contexts.
- Animal Psychology and Behavior Analysis: Explores the cognitive and emotional processes underlying animal learning, motivation, and decision-making, with a focus on species-specific behavioral patterns and their influence on training outcomes.
- Animal Health and Safety Protocols: Covers fundamental veterinary principles, injury prevention, environmental enrichment, and wellness monitoring to ensure the physical and psychological safety of training animals.
- Human-Animal Interaction Dynamics: Investigates the social and emotional bonds between people and animals, examining how communication, trust, and empathy shape training effectiveness and long-term relationship quality.
- Learning Theory and Behavioral Conditioning: Applies principles from operant and classical conditioning to design and implement structured training programs tailored to individual animals and specific performance goals.
- Species-Specific Training Methodologies: Focuses on adaptive techniques for different animals, including canines, equines, avians, and marine mammals, with attention to breed characteristics, natural instincts, and functional roles.
- Professional Application Domains: Prepares learners for real-world roles in service animal development, law enforcement and military animal units, search and rescue operations, competitive sports, entertainment, and companion animal education.
Animal Training Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Animal Training Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Animal Training degrees, including Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Animal Trainers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 28,810 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1041 | $86,350 | $49,080 - $160,870 | 8,700 | N/A |
| Animal Trainers 39-2011 | $38,750 | $29,120 - $70,800 | 20,110 | $18.63 |
Animal Training Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $31,520 in Louisiana to $101,080 in Virginia—a 221% difference. The highest-paying states include Virginia, Maryland, and Michigan. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 28,810 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Animal Training by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 5 institutions offering Animal Training programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Animal Training is found at Unity Environmental University (102 graduates), SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill), Cobleskill (41 graduates), Hocking College (13 graduates), Saint Francis University (SFU) (13 graduates), and Lamar Community College (LCC) (3 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 172 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Environmental University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
102 | New Gloucester, Maine | Private | unity.edu |
| SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Cobleskill, New York | Public | cobleskill.edu |
| Hocking College |
Other Award
|
13 | Nelsonville, Ohio | Public | hocking.edu |
| Saint Francis University (SFU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Loretto, Pennsylvania | Private | francis.edu |
| Lamar Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Lamar, Colorado | Public | lamarcc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Animal Training programs
How much can I earn with a Animal Training degree?
Salaries for Animal Training graduates vary by role and location. Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $86,350 annually, while Animal Trainers earn around $38,750. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Virginia average $101,080 compared to $31,520 in Louisiana. Approximately 28,810 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Animal Training programs?
Currently 5 accredited institutions offer Animal Training degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Unity Environmental University (102 graduates), SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill), Cobleskill (41 graduates), and Hocking College (13 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Animal Training growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 24 in 2010 to 172 in 2023-24. This represents a 617% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Animal Training degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, Animal Trainers, . Related occupations employ approximately 28,810 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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