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Animal Behavior Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Animal Care Technician

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$16.50 - $22.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Knowledge of research animal behavior, and general animal care required . · Excellent ... science. · Experience in GLP environment preferred. · Strong attention to detail and good ...

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Animal Behavior Scientist information

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$68K

$174.5K

How much do animal behavior scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal behavior scientist in the United States is $171,401.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $173,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does an animal behavior scientist make?

The average salary for an animal behavior scientist ranges from $50,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Advanced roles or those with specialized skills in research or academia can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $100,000 with seniority or leadership responsibilities.

What kind of job can you get with an animal behavior scientist degree?

An animal behavior scientist degree can lead to careers such as wildlife biologist, zoo curator, research scientist, or animal trainer. These roles often involve conducting research, analyzing animal behavior, and working in environments like laboratories, zoos, or conservation organizations, sometimes requiring fieldwork and specialized knowledge of animal psychology and ecology.

What is the difference between Animal Behavior Scientist vs Animal Trainer?

AspectAnimal Behavior ScientistAnimal Trainer
Required CredentialsDegree in biology, psychology, or animal science; research experienceExperience with training techniques; certifications like CPDT or equivalent
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, conservation organizationsPet training facilities, zoos, private homes
Employer & IndustryAcademic, research, conservation sectorsPet industry, zoos, animal shelters
Work FocusStudying animal behavior, conducting experiments, publishing researchTraining animals for obedience, behavior modification, performance

Animal Behavior Scientists focus on understanding and researching animal behavior through scientific methods, often working in labs or academic settings. In contrast, Animal Trainers apply practical training techniques to modify or teach specific behaviors, typically working directly with animals in various environments. Both roles require knowledge of animal behavior, but their goals and work settings differ significantly.

More about Animal Behavior Scientist jobs

What cities are hiring for Animal Behavior Scientist jobs?

Cities with the most Animal Behavior Scientist job openings:

What states have the most Animal Behavior Scientist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Animal Behavior Scientist jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Animal Behavior Scientist jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Animal Behavior Scientist jobs are:

Infographic showing various Animal Behavior Scientist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $171,401 per year, or $82.4 per hour.

Laboratory Animal Behavioral Technician I

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.

Shrewsbury, MA

$21/hr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Charles River Laboratories rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 94 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

22nd of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Lab Animal Behavioral Technician I (Habituation Technician) to join our Veterinary Services team. In this role, you will support animal behavioral management programs by assisting with acclimation, enrichment, and conditioning activities that help prepare animals for study procedures. This position is ideal for individuals with animal care, husbandry, veterinary, or life sciences experience who are passionate about promoting animal welfare and providing high-quality care.

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm  (or 8:00am-4:30pm)
Job Type: Full-Time

The pay rate for this position is $21/hour.  Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

Key Responsibilities

  • Handle animals and assist with acclimation programs that prepare animals for study procedures.
  • Support behavioral management initiatives through basic operant conditioning techniques.
  • Maintain, track, and review data related to acclimation and enrichment programs.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and records related to behavioral management programs.
  • Receive, label, store, and organize food and enrichment supplies.
  • Assist with food preparation and enrichment inventory management.
  • Provide appropriate environmental and social enrichment opportunities for animals.
  • Build, maintain, and evaluate enrichment devices.
  • Collaborate with veterinary, animal care, and other laboratory medicine teams to ensure animal welfare standards are met.

Qualifications

Required:

  • High school diploma or GED plus 1 year of relevant experience, or
  • Associate degree in Animal Science, Life Sciences, or a related field.
  • Experience working with animals in a research, husbandry, veterinary, shelter, kennel, or similar environment.
  • Ability to safely handle common laboratory animal species.
  • Strong organizational and recordkeeping skills.

Preferred:

  • Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
  • Multi-species animal care experience.
  • AALAS ALAT certification.
  • Knowledge of laboratory animal care standards, protocols, and regulatory requirements. 

Physical Requirements

This position is based in a research and animal care environment. Employees may work around laboratory equipment, animal allergens, biological materials, and varying noise levels. Safety equipment and training are provided. 

  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs regularly.
  • Ability to push wheeled carts weighing up to 1,200 lbs.
  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout an 8-hour shift.
  • Comfortable working in animal care and research environments.
  • Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE). 

About Safety Assessment
Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market.  Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.


About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life.  Based on your position these may include:  bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to crrecruitment_US@crl.com. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.


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About Charles River

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market. With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world. At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Wilmington, MA, US

Year founded

1947