Becoming a Dog Trainer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering animal behavior courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
animal behavioralists,
animal trainers,
dog trainers,
animal scientists,
animal control officers,
dog control officers,
guide dog instructors,
guide dog trainers,
dog breeders, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 10,080 people employed as
animal trainers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$31,080.
Animal scientists make on average $64,510
per year and there are about 2,190
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Dog Trainer
- animal hospital
- pet store
- police department
- search and rescue facility
- military outpost
- veterinarian office
- animal shelter
- animal groomer
- recreation department
- animal obedience school
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Dog Trainer
- Play with dogs
- Work out side occasionally
- Help people by training there animals properly
- Think creatively to solve problems
- Structure your own work schedule
- A lot of face to face contact with other people
- Not much education required
- Not much paper work to deal with
- Ability to have a very flexible schedule
- Have fun with dogs
Potential Drawbacks
- deal with dogs that cannot be trained
- deal with dog owners who think they know better how to train their dogs
- deal with dogs that bite
- have to market services to ensure full classes
- deal with cancellations and no shows are a problem
- what to do when it rains if classes are held outdoors
- how to handle all different breeds of dogs
- need to make sure that dogs show progress to please dog owners
- make sure you do not run out of dog treats used for rewards
- schedule classes to meet the needs of working dog owners
Related Professions to Consider
- Park Naturalists
- Teacher Assistants
- Floral Designers
- Dietetic Technicians
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Animal Control Workers
- Residential Advisors
- Dog Walker
- veterinarian
- Animal Trainer
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Dog Trainer
- If you could give five tips when it comes to methods to stop a dog barking what are they?
- What breed in your experience is easiest to train?
- What about dog behavior modification could you go into more detail and explain its methods techniques and success rate?
- What are your top tips when it comes to stopping your dog from peeing around the house?
- Can you tell us the benefits that dog training classes have as opposed to training your dog yourself at home?
- What are your views on negative reinforcement methods Do you agree with spray collars and even shock collars?
- What are the most important things to remember when training dogs?
- What is the best dog food Dry, moist, grain, free, raw, or should owner make their own dog food?
- What is your favorite dog breed and the best breed to have around children?
- Do you think that dogs can be considered to be one of our family member?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Dog Trainer
- Dog Obedience Trainer
- Claims Trainer
- Dog Trainer/Behaviorist
- Experienced Dog Trainer
- Store Associate Dog Trainers
- Experienced Dog Trainer & Handler
- Animal Trainers
- Learning & Development Trainer /Training Developer
- Provider Outreach & Education Trainer
Dog Trainer Training books
Dog Trainer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Wildlife ecology
- liberal arts
- biology
- ecology
- Veterinary science
- Equine science
- Nutrition
- Art
- zoology
- Marine biology
Dog Trainer Salary Information
Category: Animal scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
2,190 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.02/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.25 |
$19.68 |
$27.38 |
$39.68 |
$51.77 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,510 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $31,730 |
$40,930 |
$56,960 |
$82,540 |
$107,680 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
4.2% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
41.4% |
23.4% |
14.2% |
|
Animal scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$50.84/hr
|
$105,750
|
| North Dakota |
$38.64/hr
|
$80,370
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.86/hr
|
$68,350
|
| Louisiana |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,170
|
| Maine |
$32.55/hr
|
$67,700
|
| Maryland |
$31.25/hr
|
$65,010
|
| Michigan |
$30.43/hr
|
$63,300
|
| South Dakota |
$30.25/hr
|
$62,930
|
| Hawaii |
$27.81/hr
|
$57,850
|
| Wyoming |
$27.67/hr
|
$57,540
|
| Nebraska |
$26.79/hr
|
$55,720
|
| South Carolina |
$24.75/hr
|
$51,490
|
| Nevada |
$22.75/hr
|
$47,310
|
| West Virginia |
$17.83/hr
|
$37,080
|
Category: Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
| Total # Employed in the US |
71,350 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$11.25/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.7 |
$8.72 |
$10.43 |
$12.83 |
$15.79 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$23,400 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,020 |
$18,140 |
$21,700 |
$26,680 |
$32,840 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.8% |
29.0% |
37.8% |
16.3% |
9.1% |
1.6% |
1.4% |
|
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$18.61/hr
|
$38,710
|
| Missouri |
$14.46/hr
|
$30,080
|
| Colorado |
$14.01/hr
|
$29,130
|
| Delaware |
$13.54/hr
|
$28,160
|
| Michigan |
$13.1/hr
|
$27,260
|
| Mississippi |
$13.04/hr
|
$27,120
|
| Oklahoma |
$12.79/hr
|
$26,600
|
| North Dakota |
$11.99/hr
|
$24,950
|
| Kansas |
$11.75/hr
|
$24,450
|
| Alaska |
$11.7/hr
|
$24,350
|
| Puerto Rico |
$11.58/hr
|
$24,090
|
| Ohio |
$11.51/hr
|
$23,930
|
| Utah |
$11.5/hr
|
$23,910
|
| Nebraska |
$11.5/hr
|
$23,920
|
| District of Columbia |
$11.49/hr
|
$23,900
|
| North Carolina |
$11.36/hr
|
$23,640
|
| New Mexico |
$11.24/hr
|
$23,390
|
| Tennessee |
$11.18/hr
|
$23,250
|
| Montana |
$11.06/hr
|
$23,000
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.94/hr
|
$22,760
|
| Washington |
$10.92/hr
|
$22,720
|
| Idaho |
$10.85/hr
|
$22,560
|
| Indiana |
$10.85/hr
|
$22,570
|
| Oregon |
$10.79/hr
|
$22,450
|
| Connecticut |
$10.65/hr
|
$22,160
|
| Kentucky |
$10.58/hr
|
$22,010
|
| Pennsylvania |
$10.4/hr
|
$21,620
|
| New Jersey |
$10.37/hr
|
$21,560
|
| Wyoming |
$10.36/hr
|
$21,560
|
| New York |
$10.31/hr
|
$21,440
|
| South Carolina |
$10.29/hr
|
$21,390
|
| Louisiana |
$10.27/hr
|
$21,350
|
| Hawaii |
$10.15/hr
|
$21,110
|
| Maine |
$10.1/hr
|
$21,000
|
| Wisconsin |
$10.05/hr
|
$20,900
|
| Maryland |
$9.96/hr
|
$20,710
|
| California |
$9.93/hr
|
$20,660
|
| Iowa |
$9.86/hr
|
$20,500
|
| South Dakota |
$9.82/hr
|
$20,430
|
| Arkansas |
$9.7/hr
|
$20,180
|
| New Hampshire |
$9.68/hr
|
$20,130
|
| Alabama |
$9.52/hr
|
$19,810
|
| Guam |
$9.18/hr
|
$19,090
|
| Nevada |
$9.16/hr
|
$19,050
|
| West Virginia |
$9.04/hr
|
$18,800
|
Category: Animal trainers
| Total # Employed in the US |
10,080 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$14.94/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $8.13 |
$9.48 |
$12.95 |
$18.05 |
$25.06 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$31,080 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,920 |
$19,710 |
$26,930 |
$37,540 |
$52,130 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 10.1% |
32.3% |
23.1% |
9.6% |
20.8% |
3.3% |
0.7% |
|
Animal trainers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| District of Columbia |
$18.03/hr
|
$37,500
|
| Nebraska |
$17.61/hr
|
$36,630
|
| Delaware |
$17.25/hr
|
$35,890
|
| Maryland |
$16.55/hr
|
$34,410
|
| Hawaii |
$16.48/hr
|
$34,280
|
| Wisconsin |
$16.47/hr
|
$34,250
|
| Oklahoma |
$16.34/hr
|
$33,980
|
| Colorado |
$16.28/hr
|
$33,850
|
| Wyoming |
$16.2/hr
|
$33,700
|
| North Carolina |
$15.97/hr
|
$33,220
|
| North Dakota |
$15.05/hr
|
$31,300
|
| Louisiana |
$15/hr
|
$31,190
|
| Missouri |
$14.83/hr
|
$30,850
|
| Iowa |
$14.7/hr
|
$30,570
|
| Idaho |
$14.66/hr
|
$30,500
|
| Kansas |
$14.49/hr
|
$30,140
|
| New Hampshire |
$14.2/hr
|
$29,530
|
| South Carolina |
$13.91/hr
|
$28,930
|
| Guam |
$13.91/hr
|
$28,930
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.69/hr
|
$28,470
|
| Washington |
$13.58/hr
|
$28,240
|
| Mississippi |
$13.5/hr
|
$28,070
|
| Montana |
$13.47/hr
|
$28,010
|
| Connecticut |
$13.11/hr
|
$27,280
|
| Maine |
$12.97/hr
|
$26,970
|
| Utah |
$12.88/hr
|
$26,800
|
| Oregon |
$12.8/hr
|
$26,620
|
| Arkansas |
$12.18/hr
|
$25,330
|
| Indiana |
$12.12/hr
|
$25,200
|
| Alabama |
$11.89/hr
|
$24,730
|
| New York |
$11.7/hr
|
$24,340
|
| South Dakota |
$11.36/hr
|
$23,620
|
| California |
$11.32/hr
|
$23,540
|
| Kentucky |
$11/hr
|
$22,870
|
| New Mexico |
$10.45/hr
|
$21,740
|
| Tennessee |
$10.33/hr
|
$21,500
|
Category: Nonfarm animal caretakers
| Total # Employed in the US |
132,860 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$10.5/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.49 |
$8.22 |
$9.4 |
$11.63 |
$15.22 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$21,830 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15,590 |
$17,110 |
$19,550 |
$24,190 |
$31,660 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 10.2% |
38.2% |
26.6% |
8.7% |
13.8% |
1.6% |
1.0% |
|
Nonfarm animal caretakers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Indiana |
$15.02/hr
|
$31,240
|
| Alaska |
$13.07/hr
|
$27,190
|
| Florida |
$12.46/hr
|
$25,920
|
| Missouri |
$11.8/hr
|
$24,550
|
| District of Columbia |
$11.79/hr
|
$24,530
|
| Connecticut |
$11.68/hr
|
$24,290
|
| Mississippi |
$11.61/hr
|
$24,150
|
| Delaware |
$11.48/hr
|
$23,880
|
| Colorado |
$11.43/hr
|
$23,780
|
| Virginia |
$11.28/hr
|
$23,450
|
| North Dakota |
$11.11/hr
|
$23,120
|
| Ohio |
$10.82/hr
|
$22,510
|
| Hawaii |
$10.79/hr
|
$22,440
|
| Oklahoma |
$10.7/hr
|
$22,250
|
| Kansas |
$10.59/hr
|
$22,030
|
| Nebraska |
$10.49/hr
|
$21,810
|
| Michigan |
$10.48/hr
|
$21,790
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.47/hr
|
$21,780
|
| Tennessee |
$10.39/hr
|
$21,610
|
| Idaho |
$10.38/hr
|
$21,590
|
| Montana |
$10.35/hr
|
$21,530
|
| Utah |
$10.34/hr
|
$21,510
|
| Puerto Rico |
$10.3/hr
|
$21,430
|
| New Hampshire |
$10.2/hr
|
$21,210
|
| North Carolina |
$10.19/hr
|
$21,200
|
| Arkansas |
$10.16/hr
|
$21,140
|
| Wisconsin |
$10.09/hr
|
$20,980
|
| Oregon |
$10/hr
|
$20,790
|
| South Carolina |
$10/hr
|
$20,800
|
| New York |
$9.98/hr
|
$20,760
|
| New Mexico |
$9.85/hr
|
$20,500
|
| Guam |
$9.84/hr
|
$20,460
|
| Louisiana |
$9.79/hr
|
$20,360
|
| New Jersey |
$9.79/hr
|
$20,370
|
| Maryland |
$9.75/hr
|
$20,290
|
| Wyoming |
$9.72/hr
|
$20,220
|
| Washington |
$9.64/hr
|
$20,040
|
| Maine |
$9.63/hr
|
$20,020
|
| Kentucky |
$9.49/hr
|
$19,730
|
| South Dakota |
$9.48/hr
|
$19,720
|
| Iowa |
$9.46/hr
|
$19,670
|
| West Virginia |
$9.4/hr
|
$19,560
|
| Alabama |
$9.3/hr
|
$19,350
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.28/hr
|
$19,310
|
| Nevada |
$9.12/hr
|
$18,960
|
| California |
$8.83/hr
|
$18,360
|
Category: Animal breeders
| Total # Employed in the US |
1,700 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$16.93/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $8.66 |
$10.63 |
$14.27 |
$20.84 |
$29.03 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$35,210 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18,020 |
$22,110 |
$29,680 |
$43,350 |
$60,390 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 56.8% |
26.8% |
8.6% |
3.0% |
4.0% |
0.6% |
0.2% |
|
Animal breeders — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$20.01/hr
|
$41,620
|
| Wyoming |
$16.13/hr
|
$33,550
|
| Louisiana |
$14.92/hr
|
$31,040
|
| Oregon |
$13.7/hr
|
$28,500
|
| Kentucky |
$13.61/hr
|
$28,310
|
| Alabama |
$13.6/hr
|
$28,280
|
| Maryland |
$13.02/hr
|
$27,090
|
| Hawaii |
$12.7/hr
|
$26,420
|
| New Hampshire |
$12.06/hr
|
$25,080
|
| South Dakota |
$11.95/hr
|
$24,850
|
| Kansas |
$10.79/hr
|
$22,450
|
