Careers for Animal Lovers

Panda hugger, crocodile wrangler, big cat dentist, snake milker (yep, that’s a thing)—you’ve surely seen listings for wacky jobs working with animals go viral.

And you have to admit, it would be freaking awesome to get paid to give actual bear hugs to panda bears, have a wrestling match with a gator, or take a toothbrush to a tiger’s teeth. Heck, even milking a snake sounds pretty, um, interesting. Kind of makes you want to trade in your office wear for a safari outfit—khaki vest, combat boots, binoculars, and all.

While we’re sorry to say that, unfortunately, a search for these cool jobs don’t turn up any job listings at the moment, there are plenty of other opportunities that are purrfect for anyone who wants to work with animals. In fact, we’ve got a whole bunch of them up on Monster right now, ranging from A(nimal activist) to Z(oologist). Take a look to see if you get an instinct to apply to one of the jobs working with animals below.

Animal activist

Cue Sarah McLachlan. Your furry friend may be able to do a variety of tricks, but one thing they can’t do is stand up for themselves. While it’s an incredibly unfortunate thing that animal cruelty exists, you can work to raise awareness and prevent animal abuse, and the opportunities are endless. Working as an activist can involve many different types of jobs, ranging from animal control officers and animal rights lawyers to writers and graphic designers.

Companies hiring: Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council

Find all animal activist jobs on Monster.

Dog trainer

A job working with dogs is sure to get some tails wagging. Whether they’re teaching dogs to lead the blind or simply to stop eating their owner’s shoes, dog trainers perform an essential duty when it comes to man’s best friend. It’s a role with a surprisingly broad number of applications, too—those intrepid bomb-sniffing pups aren’t learning to track down explosives on their own.

Companies hiring: PetCo, Lorenzo’s Dog Training Team, Canine Behavior Science, Downtown Dog Lounge

Find all dog trainer jobs on Monster.

Equestrian instructor

Hay there! Do you love horseback riding? Then pony up to one of these jobs. From grooming to teaching riding lessons, you can work at a stable and get paid to ride horses all day. Trust us, you definitely shouldn’t buck at an opportunity to work with your trusty steed.

Companies hiring: Girl Scouts, YMCA

Find all equestrian jobs on Monster.

Farming and livestock

No, working on a farm doesn’t have to mean raising your best friends for food. Look at the world of dairy farming, for instance; you could just as easily be working alongside them in virtual human-bovine harmony. And let’s not forget that a career in agriculture can mean many different things—beyond ye olde ranch hand, there are ample opportunities on the corporate side of things, from researchers to consultants to operations managers.

Companies hiring: Iowa Select Farms, Smithfield Farmland Corp., Dairy Farmers of America

See all farming and livestock jobs on Monster.

Pet hotel worker

Picture working at a regular hotel: helping guests, strolling the grounds, making sure everyone’s having a good experience. Now, turn all of those guests into adorable kittens and puppies. Bam! Instant career greatness. Just don’t make the mistake of referring to some of these places as mere places for pets to crash while their owners are away—these are full-service resorts complete with grooming services and even Yappy Hours where the guests of the house have a chance to mix and mingle. It might involve less champagne drinking and more butt-sniffing than the social events you’re accustomed to, but that’s all part of the fun.

Companies hiring: Kennelwood Pet Resorts, PetSmart

Find all pet hotel jobs on Monster.

Veterinary services

OK, this is a bit of an obvious one when you think of jobs with animals. But we’re not just talking about vets. We’re talking about veterinary assistants, technicians, and office managers—in other words, all of the people making sure our pets get the best care possible. Even better: Like the health care industry at large, it’s a growing field, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting that veterinary jobs will grow by 19% by 2026.

Companies hiring: Vetco Clinics, Best Friends Animal Society, National Veterinary Associates

Find all veterinary jobs on Monster.

Zoo and aquarium associate

Now we’re getting tantalizingly close to panda hugger territory. Zoos and aquariums are massive operations, with positions in everything from zoology to animal handling to park attendants. But no matter what type of position you’re most interested in, one thing’s for certain: You’ll get to spend your days surrounded by a veritable menagerie of exotic beasts. We’ll take a baby elephant over Greg the Sales Guy any day.

Companies hiring: Wildlife Conservation Society, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, Denver Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, New England Aquarium

Find all zoo and aquarium jobs on Monster.

Unleash your job search

Are you trying to find jobs working with animals, but aren’t sure where to start? A great first step is to join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day, looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can sign up for job alerts to be emailed to your inbox so you can be among the first to apply. Those are just two quick and easy ways Monster can help you be the early bird that catches the worm. Or the early dog that catches the ball. (You know what we mean.)