What Is the Yearly Salary of a Dolphin Trainer?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average yearly salary for dolphin and other marine animal trainers is $26,312. The middle 50 percent of all animal trainers earn between just under $19,000 to $36,600 a year. The top 10 percent of trainers gross over $46,000 a year, while the bottom 10 percent earn just under $16,000 a year.
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Career Objective
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Dolphin trainers train dolphins for performance, assisting people with disabilities and for rehabilitative purposes. Animal training is accomplished in small increments and may take several months or years of constant repetition. Dolphin trainers also provide their animals with mental and physical stimulation and observe their behaviors while providing positive reinforcement with food or other pleasant stimulus.
Another form of dolphin training involves accustoming the animal to routine veterinary procedures. These include procedures such as X-rays, blood tests, dental exams and the administration of medication.
Dolphin trainers who train their animals for shows and other performances at zoos and aquariums seek to showcase the animals' natural abilities while educating and entertaining the public.
Work Enviornment
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Dolphin trainers usually enjoy their work, but it can be physically taxing, dangerous and messy. Often they must restrain or hold their animals and risk injury from bites or blows to the head, face and body. Their work can involve lifting heavy supplies, cleaning animal enclosures and helping to prepare food for the animals. They have to kneel, and bend repeatedly and may also be required to swim with the animals, which also brings risk of injury. They may often work outdoors in all kinds of inclement weather.
Animals must be cared for round the clock, so dolphin trainers may be required to work evenings, overnights, weekends or holidays. -
Education and Training
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Most marine animal trainers are required to have a bachelor's degree in marine biology, psychology, animal science or another equivalent degree. Many zoos or other aquatic facilities along the coastlines routinely rehabilitate wild marine life. Consequently, trainers working in these facilities may also be required to have experience or degrees related to veterinary medicine or animal health.
Job Outlook
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The BLS says the job outlook for animal-service workers and trainers was expected grow by about 19 percent from 2006 through 2016, faster than the average of all occupations. However, the actual job growth of marine mammal trainers is not as favorable. Prospective dolphin trainers will face stiff competition in zoos and aquariums for a limited amount of available positions. Candidates with a strong background in animal care coupled with advanced college degrees will have the best chance of landing one of the limited number of job openings.
Advancement
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Dolphin trainers with extensive experience and higher degrees may be promoted to supervisory roles in the facilities for which they work. These titles may include training supervisor, curator or director. In addition to marine biology, veterinary and other degrees, it may also be helpful for those seeking promotions to supervisory positions to obtain education in areas of marine ecology or water chemistry.
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References
- Photo Credit NASA/commons.wikimedia.org
