Updated October 9, 2026. The job ideas below are still real work in 2026. The salary printed on the old version for veterinarians, $93,830, is from an older Bureau of Labor Statistics release and is not current. Later BLS wage data put the median veterinarian salary near $130,000 a year.
Roles people still enter when they want to work with animals:
- Veterinarian — doctoral degree and a state license. Median pay is the figure above, not $93,830.
- Veterinary technician — typically an associate degree and, in many states, a credential. Pay is well below a veterinarian’s. Check the current BLS page for veterinary technologists before you plan on a number from this site’s old list.
- Veterinary assistant, kennel staff, and shelter worker — entry roles. Pay is hourly and local.
- Groomer, dog trainer, farrier, zookeeper, wildlife rehabilitator, and research animal caretaker — training paths differ and so does pay. Use the Occupational Outlook Handbook for the current median instead of a 2020 roundup.
The work is still there. The dollar amounts in the original 21-item list are not safe to quote in 2026.