Working with animals
You may have only heard of a few career options for people who want to work with animals, but there are actually lots of jobs that involve animals in some way, for example;
- Health: Vet, Vet nurse, Pathologist,
- Training: Guide dog trainer, Sniffer dog trainer
- Security: Police dog handler, Army dog handler or Vet
- Conservation: Wildlife biologist, Zoo keeper, Land manager
- Care: Dog groomer, Cattery manager, Dog walker, Farrier
- Sport: Jockey, Falconer, Riding instructor
- Industry: Farmer, Government or Charity inspector
- Science: Biological technician
- Entertainment: Photographer, Tour guide, Documentary filmmaker
You can find out more about each job, including the qualifications required .
At the RVC, we have staff working in all kinds of roles to improve the health, welfare or conservation of animals. Learn more about what their jobs are really like through the links and videos below.
Veterinary Surgeon
A Veterinary Surgeon (Vet) works to diagnose sick or injured animals, and treat them alongside a veterinary team. They diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication and conduct surgery, and they work with animals every day in a variety of situations. Salaries for vets can range from £30-50,000 per year.
Hear from three working vets about their daily work and why they enjoy being in the veterinary profession.
You can see more of Theeb, Fabian & Issa's work on the .
Natalie is a graduate of the RVC's Gateway course, here she talks about her work and her career path.
Learn more about , Hear what current Vets , and read the on Veterinary surgeons.
Vets can specialise to work with different types of animals, or in different environments: for example you could become a , or specialist in , or , , , or even working with ! Some Vets do research to increase our understanding of treating animals, like the RVC’s .
There are so of to explore - which one are you interested in?
Veterinary Nurse
Hear from Kelly what it's really like to be a Veterinary Nurse:
A veterinary nurse cares for unwell or injured animals. Working closely with other members of a veterinary team, they assist in surgical procedures, take samples from the animals, and give medications. Vet nurses have the opportunity to be hands-on with animals every day and can work in a variety of environments, from charities to private practices. They can also specialise in a number of areas, such as exotic animals, surgery and anaesthesia, , and even dentistry. Salaries are usually £18-26,000 per year.
You can learn more about , and the different , as well as the , and read the useful on vet nursing.
Download This awesome book made by Veterinary Nursing Graduate Remi Onabolu, all about what she wish she knew about being a Vet Nurse!
Biological Scientist
Biological scientists conduct scientific research about living things. Our "bioscientists" at the RVC focus on improving our understanding of animals, their health and welfare by conducting field and lab studies, interpreting data from veterinary practices, and analysing case studies.
Biologists can work in a variety of environments, for example, Winnie, a PhD student at the RVC works mostly in the lab and with computers, analysing data. who graduated from an RVC masters programme, works out of a tent in the middle of the Masai Mara in Kenya for six months of the year, returning to the UK to analyse her data on computers. Biologists, even those working in the field with wild animals, have less contact with animals than Vets as they try to not disturb wildlife and don’t work to care for injuries or illnesses. Some biologists however can work closely with animals during observational studies. Salaries depend on the job and can range from £14-70,000 per year.
Biological studies open up a . Read about and learn more about and on the UCAS website.
Check out this video all about Dr Lucie Bourne's journey to becoming an RVC bioscience researcher - after studying at the RVC!
Animal Care Worker
Animal Care Workers maintain the health and welfare of animals, and are skilled in husbandry, animal nutrition and enrichment. They ensure the enclosures/kennels/stables are clean and safe for the animals, provide a healthy diet and enough exercise, and interesting objects to keep the animals happy using their natural behaviours. They also keep track of animal health through weight check-ups, and administer medication prescribed by Vets.
Animal Care Workers may work in organisations like zoos with many types of animal, in specialist places such as bird of prey sanctuaries, aquariums or dog shelters, or large open spaces such as safari parks, riding schools and farms. They may have some hands on time with animals, particularly when providing food and enrichment, training or exercise, but follow strict rules to keep themselves and the animals safe. Salaries depend on the job but often start from £12-25,000 per year.
Learn more about the , and the career on the , or check out Chester Zoo’s "?"
