Animal behaviourist
Also known as: animal behavior specialist, animal behaviourist, animal behavior therapist, animal behavior expert, animal behaviour expert, animal behaviorists
About this occupation
Animal behaviourists work with animals and people to study, observe, assess and understand animal behaviour in relation to specific factors and to prevent or address inappropriate or problematic behaviours within individual animals through the development of suitable environments and management regimes, in accordance with national legislation.
Essential skills and knowledge
- design plans to address undesirable behaviour in animals
- implement training programmes for animals
- handle veterinary emergencies
- advise on animal welfare
- physiology of animals
- apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting
- design training programmes for individuals and animals
- monitor the welfare of animals
- animal behaviour
- animal welfare
- assess animal behaviour
- provide an enriching environment for animals
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Animal Scientists (O*NET 19-1011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
- Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public.
- Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
- Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
- Conduct research concerning animal nutrition, breeding, or management to improve products or processes.
- Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
- Typical education (US)
- Doctoral Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Investigative, Realistic, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Science, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making
US median pay: US$68,940 a year (2025), 3,100 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyExtremely important (4.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.1)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryVery important (4.0)
- Agriculture or Foods and NutritionO*NET: Food ProductionVery important (3.8)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.4)
- Environmental ScienceO*NET: Biology + GeographyImportant (3.3)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Doctoral Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Food Scientists and Technologists
- Soil and Plant Scientists
- Microbiologists
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Veterinarians
- Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Geneticists
- Biologists
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.