Want to work with animals?

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Animal Behavioral Trainer

What they do: Teach animals how to act in response to different conditions or stimuli. Training is conducted for entertainment, protection, detection or companionship.

What they earn: $36,000 is the median salary with one to four years of experience.*

Animal Caretaker

What they do: Assist in grooming, training and companionship for animals staying in pet spas, kennels and similar temporary locations.

What they earn: A median salary of $30,000 when working for a company.

Marine Biologist

What they do: Study and interact closely with the lives of species that spend all or most of their lives in water.

What they earn: $45,000 is the median salary.

Park Manager

What they do: Oversee daily park maintenance and operations. They are in charge of preserving and protecting wilderness areas.

What they earn: $40,000 is the median salary for state and local government positions.

High School Science Teacher

What they do: Educate students on the methods of observation, experimentation and study of different topics in science, including animal life.

What they earn: A median salary between $41,400 and $45,920.

Animal Groomer

What they do: Maintain the appearance and hygiene of animals.

What they earn: A median salary of $30,000 when working for a company.

Veterinary Pathologist

What they do: Study the scientific causes, development and results of diseases in animals.

What they earn: A median salary between $120,000 and $160,000 for industry work.

Animal Welfare Lawyer

What they do: Practice law with special focus on how it deals with animals. Cases can range from veterinary malpractice to anti-cruelty issues.

What they earn: The median annual earnings of all lawyers are $94,930.

Zoo Director

What they do: Organize and direct zoo operations. This position includes everything from analyzing the annual budget to organizing the special care of animals.

What they earn: The average starting salary for zoologists is $28,000, increasing to $36,000 after five years.

Animal-Assisted Therapist

What they do: Study behavioral patterns in animals and apply techniques to improve mental, social and physical issues within humans through animal/human companionship.

What they earn: Median annual earnings of physical therapists are $60,180, but the concentration of animal-assistance may increase or decrease earnings. Some animal-assisted therapy is considered volunteer work.

* Salary sources: Payscale.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), American College of Veterinary Pathologists (AVCP), The Princeton Review

Candace Corner is a writer for CareerBuilder.com.