Jobs Similar to Animal Trainers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to animal trainers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Animal Caretakers, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors and Skincare Specialists.
Animal Trainers: $39,990 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Animal Trainers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animal CaretakersSame group | 75% | $35,360−12% | High school |
| 2 | Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 75% | $47,160+18% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Skincare Specialists | 74% | $45,330+13% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 74% | $35,790−11% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Athletic Trainers | 73% | $62,520+56% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Coaches and Scouts | 72% | $47,320+18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Animal Control Workers | 72% | $45,660+14% | High school |
| 8 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 72% | $33,580−16% | High school |
| 9 | Exercise Physiologists | 71% | $59,460+49% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Chiropractors | 71% | $79,200+98% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Shampooers | 71% | $32,600−18% | High school |
| 12 | Physical Therapist Aides | 71% | $35,240−12% | High school |
| 13 | Bartenders | 71% | $34,340−14% | High school |
| 14 | Embalmers | 70% | $58,780+47% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 70% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Acupuncturists | 70% | $76,040+90% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Manicurists and Pedicurists | 70% | $35,760−11% | High school |
| 18 | Prosthodontists | 69% | $311,180+678% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 69% | $50,340+26% | High school |
| 20 | Massage Therapists | 69% | $58,450+46% | Training or associate |
- 1Animal Caretakers
75% similar · $35,360 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 2Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
75% similar · $47,160 (+18%) · Training or associate
- 3Skincare Specialists
74% similar · $45,330 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 4Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
74% similar · $35,790 (−11%) · Training or associate
- 5Athletic Trainers
73% similar · $62,520 (+56%) · Graduate degree
- 6Coaches and Scouts
72% similar · $47,320 (+18%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Animal Control Workers
72% similar · $45,660 (+14%) · High school
- 8Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
72% similar · $33,580 (−16%) · High school
- 9Exercise Physiologists
71% similar · $59,460 (+49%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Chiropractors
71% similar · $79,200 (+98%) · Graduate degree
- 11Shampooers
71% similar · $32,600 (−18%) · High school
- 12Physical Therapist Aides
71% similar · $35,240 (−12%) · High school
- 13Bartenders
71% similar · $34,340 (−14%) · High school
- 14Embalmers
70% similar · $58,780 (+47%) · Training or associate
- 15Adapted Physical Education Specialists
70% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Acupuncturists
70% similar · $76,040 (+90%) · Graduate degree
- 17Manicurists and Pedicurists
70% similar · $35,760 (−11%) · High school
- 18Prosthodontists
69% similar · $311,180 (+678%) · Graduate degree
- 19Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
69% similar · $50,340 (+26%) · High school
- 20Massage Therapists
69% similar · $58,450 (+46%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than animal trainers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for animal trainers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where animal trainers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Animal Control Workers (80)
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (73)
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials (73)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (72)
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (71)
- Physical Therapist Aides (71)
- Shampooers (71)
- Manicurists and Pedicurists (70)
- Skincare Specialists (70)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (69)
Questions about jobs like animal trainers
What jobs are most similar to animal trainers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Animal Caretakers (75% similar), Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (75% similar), Skincare Specialists (74% similar), Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (74% similar) and Athletic Trainers (73% similar).
Which jobs like animal trainers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Prosthodontists ($311,180, +678%; usually a graduate degree), Chiropractors ($79,200, +98%; usually a graduate degree) and Acupuncturists ($76,040, +90%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with animal trainers ($39,990). Without more preparation than animal trainers usually need: Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance and Animal Control Workers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.