Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Food service, cleaning, and personal care / 39-2011.00

Animal Trainers

Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact, and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.

US jobs
18,770
Median wage
$39,990 a year
Job family
Food service, cleaning, and personal care

Can agents do the work of animal trainers?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Food service, cleaning, and personal care: Not yet (first measured in the last 12 months)

Direct benchmarks exist, but agents complete less than 20% of their tasks.

Evidence: BEHAVIOR Challenge 2025, 12.4% of tasks fully completed (Full task success rate).

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 34%Train animalsNot measured
  • 18%Evaluate personnel capabilities or performanceNot measured
  • 8%Monitor health conditions of humans or animalsNot measured
  • 8%Prepare health or medical documentsNot measured
  • 7%Coordinate artistic or entertainment activitiesNot measured
  • 7%Administer basic health care or medical treatmentsNot measured
  • 6%Confer with clients to determine needs or order specificationsNot measured
  • 3%Coordinate group, community, or public activitiesNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in food service, cleaning, and personal care, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Cue or signal animals during performances.
  • Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
  • Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
  • Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
  • Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
  • Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
  • Administer prescribed medications to animals.
  • Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
  • Evaluate animals for trainability and ability to perform.
  • Advise animal owners regarding the purchase of specific animals.
  • Train horses or other equines for riding, harness, show, racing, or other work, using knowledge of breed characteristics, training methods, performance standards, and the peculiarities of each animal.
  • Use oral, spur, rein, or hand commands to condition horses to carry riders or to pull horse-drawn equipment.
Other job titles for this occupation (51)

Agility Instructor · Dog Obedience Instructor · Dog Trainer · Guide Dog Instructor · Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) · Guide Dog Trainer · Horse Trainer · Racehorse Trainer · Service Dog Trainer · Trainer · Animal Handler · Animal Trainer · Bronc Breaker · Bronc Buster · Canine Handler · Canine Service Teacher · Cat Groomer · Dog Groomer · Dog Handler · Dog Show Judge · Dolphin Trainer · Elephant Tamer · Equestrian · Equestrian Trainer · Explosive Detection K-9 Handler (Explosive Detection Canine Handler) · Handler · Hearing Dog Trainer · Horse Breaker · Horse Wrangler · Horseman · Licensed Guide Dog Instructor · Lion Tamer · Lion Trainer · Marine Animal Trainer · Marine Mammal Trainer · Monkey Trainer · Obedience Trainer · Outrider · Pet Groomer · Pet Handler · Pet Trainer · Pet Training Instructor · Ring Conductor · Seeing Eye Dog Teacher · Seeing Eye Dog Trainer · Show Dog Trainer · Show Horse Driver · Snake Charmer · Trick Rodeo Rider · Whale Trainer · Wrangler