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Animal Behavior Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Maury County Tennessee

Animal Caretaker I

Columbia, TN · On-site

$13.46/hr

... behavior and animal health. -Considerable knowledge of effective hygiene practices and required maintenance activities for the efficient operation of an animal control shelter. -Knowledge of ...

New

CareVet

Kennel Attendant - Part-Time

Collierville, TN

$11 - $14.25/hr

Reporting changes in animal behavior, health or concerns to Vet or Hospital Manager * Maintaining animal records, such as weight, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food ...

Petco

Companion Animal Supervisor

Hendersonville, TN · On-site

Lead by example modeling Petco's selling behaviors and customer service expectations. Let's Go! * Drive Companion Animal and Aquatics sales, margin, and shrink performance through disciplined ...

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All JobsAnimal Behavior JobsAnimal Behavior Jobs in Tennessee

Animal Behavior information

See Tennessee salary details

$18.7K

$47.2K

$74.2K

How much do animal behavior jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal behavior in Tennessee is $47,175.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31,794.00 and $58,542.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal Behaviorist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Behaviorist, you need a strong background in animal science, psychology, or biology, often supported by a relevant degree and specialized training. Familiarity with behavioral assessment tools, data analysis software, and sometimes certification from organizations like the Animal Behavior Society is typical. Excellent observation, problem-solving, and communication skills help professionals interact effectively with both animals and their owners. These qualifications are crucial for accurately diagnosing behavioral issues and implementing effective intervention strategies that improve animal welfare.

What is animal behavior?

Animal behavior refers to the actions and reactions of animals in response to external or internal stimuli. It encompasses everything animals do, including movement, communication, feeding, mating, and social interactions. Scientists study animal behavior to understand how animals adapt to their environment, interact with each other, and survive. This field can involve both observing animals in their natural habitats and conducting experiments in controlled settings.

What are some common challenges faced by animal behaviorists in their daily work?

Animal behaviorists often encounter challenges such as interpreting subtle behavioral cues, working with animals that may be stressed or fearful, and effectively communicating findings to pet owners or facility staff. They may also face unpredictable situations, especially when working with animals with a history of aggression or trauma. Building trust with both animals and humans, as well as adapting behavior modification plans to suit individual needs, are key aspects of the role that require patience and flexibility.

What Are Animal Behavior Jobs?

Animal behavior jobs focus on either domestic animals or wildlife behavior. If you work with domestic animals, you may have duties like training dogs or horses as companion animals or service animals. Your responsibilities can vary significantly, as running obedience classes is very different than training a seeing-eye dog. As an animal behaviorist, your duties and responsibilities are to study how animals behave in their natural habitat, observing how they eat, their hunting behavior, their mating patterns, and how they raise their offspring. In addition to your research, you may teach in a college or university or provide instruction to primary school students. Other animal behaviorist work in zoos or wildlife preserves.

What is the difference between Animal Behavior vs Animal Care Specialist?

AspectAnimal BehaviorAnimal Care Specialist
Required CredentialsDegree in animal science, psychology, or related field; certifications in animal behaviorHigh school diploma or equivalent; on-the-job training or certifications in animal care
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, animal behavior consulting firmsZoos, shelters, pet stores, veterinary clinics
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, academia, animal behavior consultingAnimal shelters, pet care facilities, zoos
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Animal Behavior specialists focus on studying, analyzing, and understanding animal actions, often working in research or consulting roles. Animal Care Specialists provide hands-on care, feeding, and maintaining animals in shelters, zoos, or clinics. While both roles involve working with animals, Animal Behavior emphasizes understanding behavior patterns, whereas Animal Care focuses on daily animal well-being and management.

More about Animal Behavior jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Behavior jobs in Tennessee? The most popular types of Animal Behavior jobs in Tennessee are:
What are popular job titles related to Animal Behavior jobs in Tennessee? For Animal Behavior jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animal Behavior jobs in Tennessee look for? The top searched job categories for Animal Behavior jobs in Tennessee are:
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Animal Behavior jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Animal Behavior job openings:
Animal Behavior jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Behavior job openings in Tennessee as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 59% Full Time, and 41% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $47,175 per year, or $22.7 per hour.

Unpaid Animal Care Internship - Primate Canyon

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN • On-site

$12.50 - $16.75/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Animal Care Internship - Primate Canyon
Species: Gorilla, orangutan, bonobo, siamang, white-cheeked gibbons, colobus monkeys, spot-nosed guenons, red- and black-and-white-ruffed lemurs, mandrills, Sulawesi crested macaques, and Asian small-clawed otters.
Interns work directly with animal care staff to gain firsthand experience of all aspects of animal husbandry including diet prep, enclosure maintenance, training, enrichment, guest interactions and more. The goal of the program is to provide college students (or recent graduates) with pre-professional career experience through hands-on experiential learning opportunities.
This internship is unpaid but housing may be available seasonally. The program spans 10-12 weeks and participants will be scheduled up to 40hrs per week. Spring internships begin in January and end in May (deadline for application is due Nov 15th). Summer internships will begin in May and end in August (deadline for application March 1st). Fall internships begin in August and end in December (deadline for application due July 1st). Selected participants must successfully complete a background check and TB test.
Intern duties will vary upon season and departmental needs, but could include:
Assisting staff in all aspects of animal care including, but not limited to, diet preparation, exhibit cleaning/disinfection, maintenance, training and enrichment, record keeping, and guest interactions. Contact with class one animals is minimal and directly supervised.
  • Actively observing animal's behavior
  • Facilitates formal and informal public presentations to engage guests and provide a positive guest experience.
  • Assisting with the production of special events, animal celebrations, and awareness days
  • Maintaining animal areas, work areas, and all resources in a clean, organized manner
  • Completes a special project covering observations, research, enrichment, or another area of interest.

Qualifications:
  • Must be a dependable, hard-working college student or recent graduate with an interest in the fields of education, interpretation, environmental science, biology, zoology, or zoo management, or might be considering a change of career.
  • Must be able to work between 24-40 hours per week for 10-12 weeks.
  • Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
  • Must demonstrate enthusiasm and good judgement while working with zoo guests of all ages.
  • Must demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to follow directions.
  • Must be 18 years or older.

Beneficial Skills:
  • Proficiency in Office 365, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Behaviors:
  • Team Player: Works well as a member of a group.
  • Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well.
  • Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity.

Motivations:
  • Goal Completion: Inspired to perform well by the completion of tasks.
  • Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization.

Required Education or Experience:
  • Completion of college coursework in biology, zoology, animal behavior, or related fields.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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