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9 Things I Love and Have Learned After 9 Years Of Blogging
I still remember the month I started my blog. I don’t really remember the exact first day, but I remember the first month and how excited I was.
In August of 2011, I started Making Sense of Cents.
That was exactly 9 years ago!
Back then, I had no idea what I was doing, and I also had no goals for my blog.
I didn’t even really know what a blog was, or that they could make money.
I also didn’t even like to write at that time!
In the past 9 years, so much has changed for me.
It’s crazy to think that I started my blog nine years ago, especially when I consider all of the amazing things it has done for my life.
It was something I started and worked on in addition to my full-time day job as a financial analyst, and around two years after I started this blog, I quit my day job to blog full-time.
Some numbers on Making Sense of Cents:
- My first blog post was published on August 10, 2011. You can read it here.
- I have published 1,878 articles here on Making Sense of Cents. That number was higher about a month ago, but I recently deleted several hundred articles that I thought weren’t good enough.
- I have 70,816 comments on my blog posts.
- I’ve personally replied to 21,080 comments.
- It took me 6 months to earn my first $100 from Making Sense of Cents.
First, a little backstory on how I began.
You may have heard this from me before, but the funny thing is that I created my blog on a whim after reading about a personal finance website in a magazine. It started as a hobby to track my own personal finance progress, and I honestly didn’t even know that people could make money blogging!
I knew NOTHING about running a website.
At that time, I was working as an analyst at an investment banking and valuation firm. I chugged along working the 8-5, Monday through Friday grind and didn’t see myself having an enjoyable future there. I had a stressful job filled with lots of deadlines and responsibilities that just didn’t interest me. Yes, I know this is the norm for some people, but I just couldn’t imagine myself living like that for 40+ years.
Blogging was an outlet for my stressful day job, and my interest quickly grew, even though it was just a hobby. It gave me space to write about my personal finance situation, have a support group, to keep track of how I was doing, and more. I did not create Making Sense of Cents with the intention of earning an income, but after only six months, I began to make money blogging.
A friend I met through the blogging community connected me with an advertiser, and I earned $100 from that advertisement deal.
That one deal sparked my interest in taking my blog more seriously and learning how to make even more money blogging.
I now earn a great living from my blog, and it all started on a whim, not even knowing that blogs could make money.
Blogging completely changed my life for the better, and I urge anyone who is interested to learn how to start a blog as well.
Blogging has allowed me to take control of my finances and earn more money. It means I can work from home, travel whenever I want, have a flexible schedule, and more!
Related content:
- How I Successfully Built A $1,000,000+ Blog
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- How To Start a Blog Free Course
- Should I Start A Blog? Here Are The Top Reasons You Will Love Blogging
- What is a blog post?
And, all of this happened because I started some random blog nine years ago.
I made so many mistakes, and I still make mistakes today. But, I continue to learn and improve, which has shaped this blog into what it is today.
I was so afraid to quit my job when I did, especially for a blog.
So many people thought I was absolutely crazy and making the worst decision of my life. Especially since my husband quit his job at the same time!
Today, I want to talk about the the 9 things that I love and have learned about blogging over the years. I feel like what I enjoy about blogging as well as what I’ve learned go hand in hand.
Oh yeah, if you haven’t yet – please follow me on Instagram.
Here’s what I love and have learned about blogging.
1. I love being my own boss.
When I first started my blog and realized I could make an income from it, I quickly learned how much I love being my own boss.
I love being in complete control of what I do, and becoming self-employed may allow you to feel that way as well. I enjoy deciding what I will do each day, creating my own schedule, determining my business goals, handling everything behind the scenes, and more.
I actually have a rule in my life/business where I don’t do anything unless I want to. While I still say yes to many amazing opportunities, I’m not doing anything that feels like a total drag or is against my beliefs. This has really helped improve my work-life balance, which is great because being able to choose how you earn a living amounts to making sure you love everything you do.
I honestly love each and every service I provide – writing online, promoting, networking, interacting with readers, and more.
Running an online business (and being your own boss) may not be for everyone, but it’s something I enjoy.
2. A flexible schedule is one of my most favorite things.
One of the best things about working for yourself and being a blogger is that you can have a flexible schedule.
I can work as far ahead as I want to, I can create my own work schedule, and more.
I love being able to work for a few hours in the morning, do something fun during the day (such as a hike), and then work later at night when I have nothing planned. I can also schedule appointments during the day and it’s really no big deal.
I can work at night, in the morning, on the weekends – I can work whenever.
But, this can also be something to be careful with as well, as it can be difficult to have a good work-life balance.
3. Location independence is AMAZING.
Being location independent for so many years has been great.
I love being able to work from wherever I am, and it’s allowed me some of the best experiences I’ve had, like living in an RV and now on a sailboat. All I need is an internet connection and my laptop.
The only problem with being location independent is that it can be hard to separate work from the rest of your life. You may find yourself working all the time, no matter where you are, and while that may seem great, being able to take a true vacation can be a hard task.
However, I’m not going to complain because the work-life balance I’m rocking right now is great.
4. Remember, success takes time!
Many bloggers quit just a few months in.
In fact, the statistic that I’ve always heard is that the average blogger quits just 6 months in.
I completely understand – starting a blog can be super overwhelming!
But, good things don’t come easy. If blogging was easy, then everyone would be doing it.
It took me 6 months for me to earn my first $100 from Making Sense of Cents. If I would have quit at that time, I would have missed out on so many great things!
Remember, success takes time!
5. Don’t write when you feel forced.
One thing I have definitely learned about myself over the years is that I write best when I’m not forced – i.e. when I’m on a deadline.
Instead, I always try to write content ahead of time.
I used to write content for Monday on the night before (Sunday!), and I found that to be super stressful. Even a week in advance was too stressful for me.
I like to be at least a month ahead, as then I can truly write when I feel inspired and happy to write.
6. Get ready to learn.
Pretty much everything about having a blog is a learning process.
Blogging is not a get rich quick scheme, and anyone who tells you that it is (or acts like it is) is lying.
Blogging is not easy.
And, you won’t make $100,000 your first month blogging.
Blogging can be a lot of work, and there is always something to learn. Something is always changing in the blogging world, which means you will need to continue to learn and adapt to the technology around you. This includes learning about social media platforms, running a website, growing your platform, writing high-quality content, and more.
This is something that I love about blogging – it’s never stale and there’s always a new challenge.
7. Stop seeing other bloggers as competition.
Okay, so this isn’t exactly something that I’ve learned, but I want everyone else to learn!
I have always had this mindset – that there is plenty of room for everyone in the blogging world. However, not everyone feels the same.
So many bloggers see other bloggers as enemies or competition, and this is a huge mistake.
I mostly see this in newer bloggers, and this can really hold them back.
Networking is very important if you want to create a successful blog. Bloggers should be open to making blogging friends, attending blog conferences, sharing other blogs’ content with their readers, and more.
Networking can help you enjoy blogging more, learn new things about blogging, learn how to make money blogging, make great connections, and more. If you want to make money blogging, then you will want to network with others! After all, networking is the reason why I learned how to make money blogging in the first place!
The key is to be genuine and to give more than you take, which are the two main things I always tell people when it comes to networking. I receive so many emails every day from people who clearly aren’t genuine, and it’s very easy to see.
I’ve made great friends who are bloggers and influencers, and it’s truly a great community to be in.
8. You don’t need previous experience to be successful.
To become a blogger, you don’t need any previous experience. You don’t need to be a computer wizard, understand social media, or anything else.
These are all things that you can learn as you go.
Nearly every single blogger was brand new at some point, and they had no idea what they were doing.
I’m proof of that because I didn’t even know that blogs existed when I started Making Sense of Cents, and I definitely didn’t know that bloggers could make money. I learned how to create a blog from the bottom up and have worked my way to where I am today. It’s not always easy, but it’s been rewarding!
With blogging, you’ll have a lot to learn, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It’s challenging, but in a good way.
9. You can make a living blogging.
This is probably one of the best things that I’ve learned since I first started my blog.
You can actually make a living blogging!
No, not every single person will become a successful blogger (it’s NOT a get-rich-quick scheme), but I know many successful bloggers who started in a similar way as I did – blogging as a hobby and it just grew from there.
For me, I have earned a high income with my blog, and I have enough saved to retire whenever I would like. I am still working on my blog, though, as I enjoy what I do.
What’s next?
I’ve never really been much of a planner, so I don’t want to commit to anything HUGE haha.
But, for Making Sense of Cents, I do have some plans. I am working towards improving traffic and readership, and coming up with more and more high-quality content.
I am so grateful to all of you readers, and I want to continue to help you all out by writing high-quality content.
That is really my only goal for now!
If there’s anything you’d like me to write about on Making Sense of Cents, please send me an email at michelle@makingsenseofcents.com or leave a comment below.
Thank you for being a reader!
There’s a ton of valuable free resources.
I know I’ll be asked this, so I am going to include this here.
One of the great things about starting a blog is that there are a ton of FREE blogging resources out there that can help you get started.
In fact, I didn’t spend any money in the beginning in order to learn how to blog – instead, I signed up for a ton of free webinars, free email courses, and more.
- First, if you don’t have a blog, then I recommend starting off with my free blogging course How To Start A Blog FREE Course.
- Affiliate Marketing Cheat Sheet – With this time-saving cheat sheet, you’ll learn how to make affiliate income from your blog. These tips will help you to rapidly improve your results and increase your blogging income in no time.
- The SEO Starter Pack (FREE Video Training)– Improve your SEO knowledge in just 60 minutes with this FREE 6-day video training.
- The Free Blogging Planner – The Blogging Planner is a free workbook that I created just for you! In this free workbook, you’ll receive printables for starting your blog, creating a blog post, a daily/weekly blog planner, goals, and more.
Do you have any questions for me? Are you interested in starting your own business?
The post 9 Things I Love and Have Learned After 9 Years Of Blogging appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.
Source: makingsenseofcents.com
Chipotle to Hold Nationwide Hiring Event to Fill 15K New Jobs
Chipotle is kicking off the new year with a nationwide hiring blitz.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
Source: thepennyhoarder.com
To make headway on those recruitment efforts, all Chipotle locations are holding a âCoast to Coastâ career event Jan. 14. On-site interviews are taking place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time.
According to job listings on the companyâs career board, the main crew-member requirement is that you must be at least 16 years old to apply. All training is provided.
To participate in the hiring event, you must fill out a brief application and select an available interview time slot at your local Chipotle. Do not show up without requesting an interview.
To entice new workers, the burrito chain has been experimenting with new perks and benefits available to all employees, part- and full-time:
Job Openings at Chipotle
If Chipotle meets its hiring goals, the companyâs workforce is set to exceed 100,000.
Adam Hardy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. He covers the gig economy, remote work and other unique ways to make money. Read his âlatest articles here, or say hi on Twitter @hardyjournalism.
Compared to the overall restaurant industry, Chipotle has fared well throughout the pandemic. The company hired 10,000 new workers in July as it added new locations and built drive-thru windows at many existing locations. In November, Chipotle unveiled its first ever âdigitalâ restaurant in New York to experiment with only providing drive-thru and pick-up orders.
With hundreds of new restaurants in the works, the fast-casual Mexican food chain plans to fill 15,000 new openings, according to the hiring announcement.
- Medical, dental and vision insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan after one year of employment.
- One free meal per shift.
- 100% tuition coverage for select degrees and universities through a partnership with Guild Education.
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 for schools and degrees outside that partnership.
- Paid time off including parental leave.
- English as a second language training.
âPlease bring a mask and follow all safety protocols while youâre in the restaurant,â the company said.
Chipotle doesnât have a company-wide minimum wage. On average, crew members earn about to an hour (or local minimum wage if higher) according to thousands of self-reported wages on Glassdoor.
As a safety precaution, outdoor and curbside interview accommodations are available.
Chipotleâs recruitment spree is focused on hiring new restaurant team members, which primarily consist of line cooks, food preppers, and cashiers. These positions are entry level.
Personal Financial Improvement With The Fruit Of The Spirit
How does love apply to money? Is it possible to be joyful even when broke? Do I have the self-control to get out and stay out of debt? Find out more!
The post Personal Financial Improvement With The Fruit Of The Spirit appeared first on Bible Money Matters and was written by Tim Kiser. Copyright © Bible Money Matters – please visit biblemoneymatters.com for more great content.
Source: biblemoneymatters.com
God’s Benefit Package: Review Your Biblical Benefits
It’s open enrollment time once again. A time when employees review their benefit packages and make changes as needed. How about your bible-based benefits?
The post God’s Benefit Package: Review Your Biblical Benefits appeared first on Bible Money Matters and was written by Tim Kiser. Copyright © Bible Money Matters – please visit biblemoneymatters.com for more great content.
Source: biblemoneymatters.com
The Best Apps to Save You Real Money
Saving money has never been easy, and some would say modern technology has made it even harder. Where consumers once had to go out of their way to buy clothing and household supplies, or even splurge for something fun, technology has made it so you can shop on your phone and have anything you want delivered to your doorstep. And then you have subscription services, which get you to pay a monthly fee in exchange for a box of âstuffâ you may not even need.
But technology can also be used for good, and thatâs especially true when it comes to our finances. With money saving apps, for example, you can set up your finances in a way that helps you save small sums of money that are set aside and even invested on your behalf.
Donât get money saving apps confused with budgeting apps. Where budgeting apps like You Need a Budget (YNAB.com) and Qube Money help you manage your finances and create a spending plan, money saving apps actually help you save more money each month, although often in different ways.
We profiled the top money saving apps to find the best options that are made to work for the broadest range of consumers. Acorns came out on top in our ranking due to its ease of use and the fact it makes saving and investing money seamless. However, the additional apps that made our ranking are worth considering if you want to boost your savings goals this year.
The Most Important Factors for Money Saving Apps
- Cost: You should never pay an arm and a leg for an app that is supposed to help you save money. For the purpose of this ranking, we looked for money saving apps that charge small, manageable monthly fees.
- Growth Potential: When youâre saving money each month, you want that money to grow. Consider money saving apps that make it possible to invest your savings or grow it over time with a generous promised return.
- Flexibility: Consumers should look for apps that can be tailored to their needs, or at least ones that let them set up their preferences. Mobile apps that aim to help you save should make it easy to set specific savings goals or even separate savings âbuckets.â
- Safety: Before you sign up for a money saving app, check for security features like encryption and multi-factor authentication.
The Best Money Saving Apps
The top money saving apps have something for everyone without charging exorbitant fees. We compared more than 10 mobile apps that were created to help consumers save money to come up with our list of favorites. If youâre hoping to boost your savings this year and think technology might help, this is the perfect place to start your search:

- Best for Investing

- Best for High-Yield Savings

- Best for Setting Goals

- Best Savings Bonus

- Best for Automation
Before you choose a mobile app that is geared to help you boost your savings, you should understand how it will work as well as the long-term costs. Our app reviews can help you decide which money saving app makes the most sense for your goals and your budget.
Acorns: Best for Investing
What We Love About Acorns: Acorns earned the top spot in our ranking for a few reasons. First, this app lets you invest using your spare change, which makes it easy to save small sums of money you may not even notice. Second, all three plans you can sign up for â Lite, Personal, and Family â include an investing component that makes it easy to grow the money you set aside, and even save for retirement.
The âPersonalâ version of Acorns is the most robust version for individuals. This plan includes all-in-one investment assistance, help with retirement, a checking component, a metal debit card and more. You can also save money with no account fees and reimbursed ATM fees, and you can earn more with up to 10% in bonus investments.
Further, this app gives you the chance to invest automatically with built-in retirement options, and you can tailor your plan to your retirement and investing goals. Generally speaking, an Acorns portfolio is typically made up of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ranging from conservative to aggressive.
What Holds it Back: The stock market doesnât guarantee positive returns â especially in the short-term. In other words, you could wind up losing money if you only invest for a short amount of time.
Reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Play
Cost: $1 per month for a Lite plan, $3 per month for a Personal plan, and $5 per month for a Family plan
Simple: Best for High-Yield Savings
What We Love About Simple: Simple is a mobile app that offers savings tools that work in conjunction with a free checking account and a special debit card. This app lets you set up notifications that inform you each time a transaction is made, and you can use it to set financial goals, manage your expenses, and set aside âSafe to Spendâ funds for whatever you want.
Simple also lets you round up your debit transactions to the nearest dollar then transfer the difference into a high-yield Protected Goals subaccount with a 1.00% APY.
One major benefit of Simple is the fact that itâs normally free to use. Fees you may have to pay include $5 for paper checks, out-of-network ATM fees, and foreign transaction fees if you use your debit card abroad.
What Holds it Back: Simple doesnât offer the same robust investing options as Acorns and some other apps that made our ranking.
Reviews: 4 out of 5 stars on Google Play
Cost: Using the app to manage your money is free
Qapital: Best for Setting Goals
What We Love About Qapital: Qapital is another money saving app you can use to reach your savings goals and invest for the future. This app lets you automate your savings and round your purchases up to the next dollar. Youâll receive a debit card that is free to use for purchases and transfers, but youâll have to pay a fee to use an ATM. You can use the app to create separate savings buckets for various goals, and you can even set up your own spending rules.
Qapital also has its own pre-built portfolios that can make investing easy. All you need to do is choose an investing timeline (such as how many years you have until retirement) and the app will automatically choose a portfolio that is diverse and tailored to the amount of time you have to keep your money invested.
What Holds it Back: Qapital is considerably more expensive than many other apps that are geared to helping you save money. The savings account component also comes with an unimpressive APY.
Reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars on Google Play
Cost: A Basic plan is $3 per month, a Complete plan is $6 per month, and a Master Plan is $12 per month
Digit: Best Savings Bonus
What We Love About Digit: Digit is another app that was created to help you save money automatically. According to the app creators, Digit âanalyzes your spending and automatically saves the perfect amount every day, so you don’t have to think about it.â The money you save is then transferred to a Digit savings account. You can also set up separate savings buckets, which can be geared to specific goals you have like a vacation fund, a debt payoff fund, college savings, or something else.
We also like the fact that Digit offers a .5% annual savings bonus that is paid out every three months. This bonus helps incentivize users to save even more over time. Finally, donât forget that Digit offers a 30-day free trial, which makes it easy to try it out before you make a commitment.
What Holds it Back: Digit is not really geared to consumers who want to invest for the long-term. This is a true money saving app that is focused on helping you save money instead.
Reviews: 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google Play
Cost: Digit is free for 30 days, then $5 per month
Stash: Best for Automation
What We Love About Stash: Stash is an investing app that also comes with a savings component. This makes it a good option for people who want to start setting aside small sums of money that they invest to reach their long-term financial goals.
Stash lets you invest your savings in your choice of thousands of stocks and funds. You can also invest using fractional shares, which let you get started with a relatively low balance in your account.
The savings component of the app, called Auto-Stash, also makes it easy to automate your savings. You can set up automatic transfers from your bank account to your Stash account, and you can also round up purchases to the nearest dollar and automatically invest that money as well.
What Holds it Back: At $9 per month, Stash can be expensive if you pay for their most generous plan.
Reviews: 4.0 out of 5 stars on Google Play
Cost: Stash is only $1 per month for a Beginner plan, $3 per month for a Growth plan, and $9 per month for a Stash+ plan
How We Found the Best Money Saving Apps
The best money saving apps are geared to helping you save more money than you might otherwise, usually through automation. To find the apps for our ranking, we considered the following criteria:
- Monthly Cost: We looked for money apps that offer low monthly fees ($5 or less per month), with the exception of comprehensive plans that offer a major investing component. Ongoing cost is important since apps that aim to help you save money shouldnât cost an arm and a leg over the long-term.
- Automation Features: Saving money automatically is the best way to grow long-term wealth. With that in mind, we looked for apps that have an automation component, either by allowing automatic transfers to your account, a feature that rounds up all of your purchases, or both.
- Safety Features: We looked for money saving apps that offer 256-bit encryption or better. We also looked for secondary safety features like multi-factor authentication and notifications.
- Reviews: Finally, we compared all the apps on this list in terms of their user reviews. Each app that made our ranking has a minimum ranking of 4 out of 5 stars on Google Play.
How to Make the Most of Your Money Saving App
Downloading a money saving app is an excellent first step toward building a better financial future, but youâll need to do more than that if you want to boost your savings rate and stay safe in the process. Before you commit to any of the apps weâve profiled in our ranking, consider these tips that could help you get the most out of the experience.
- Take advantage of special security features. All of the apps that made our ranking offer industry standard encryption protection. However, if your app offers additional safety features like multi-factor authentication, you should take the time to set this up. With Stash, for example, you have the option to add biometric recognition using a fingerprint to access your account.
- Utilize automation to its fullest potential. Make sure youâre making the most of automation features, whether they include the option to round up all of your purchases or the chance to set up automatic transfers to your account. Remember that automating your savings is the best way to have your money grow automatically, and that you should strive to âset it and forget itâ as much as you can.
- Get your spouse or partner involved. Saving money on your own can be fruitful, but you have the chance to double the impact if you get your spouse or partner on board. Some money saving apps like Acorns offer a Family plan, which makes it easy for you and a partner to get on the same page when it comes to your goals.
- Invest your money for the long haul. Some of the apps we profiled focus mostly on helping build a savings account, but others like Acorns and Stash help you invest for the long run. If your goal is saving for retirement or other long-term financial goals, youâll want to focus on options that let you invest your money into stocks, ETFs, or portfolios that are tailored to your investment timeline and appetite for risk.
- Leave your savings alone: While thereâs nothing wrong with setting up savings buckets for vacations, a kitchen remodel, or another short-term goal, money saving apps can also help you save for retirement and other long-term financial needs. You should really commit to leaving some of the money you save alone to grow over time. That way, your savings will be there when you need it.
Summary: Best Money Saving Apps
Money Saving App | What Itâs Best For |
Acorns | Investing |
Simple | High-Yield Savings |
Qapital | Setting Goals |
Digit | Savings Bonus Potential |
Stash | Automation |
The post The Best Apps to Save You Real Money appeared first on Good Financial Cents®.
Source: goodfinancialcents.com
Donating Plasma For Money: Best Places To Donate Plasma To Make $300-400 A Month
Donating plasma is a legit way to earn some extra cash while helping others. You only need 2-3 hours a week to donate plasma and make $300 to $400 a month.
The post Donating Plasma For Money: Best Places To Donate Plasma To Make $300-400 A Month appeared first on Bible Money Matters and was written by Lorraine Smithills. Copyright © Bible Money Matters – please visit biblemoneymatters.com for more great content.
Source: biblemoneymatters.com
12 Jobs Working with Animals That Pay Good Money
Love the idea of working with animals, but don’t have the resources or desire to go through vet school? You can still put your love of pets or wildlife to work in your career. Here are twelve jobs working with animals that can pay the bills for any animal lover.
1. Groomer
Groomers help pets look their best by cleaning them, trimming fur and providing other services. Pay depends on skills, certifications, experience and which state you work in. The highest pay in each region typically going to specialists who provide boutique grooming services.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $34,702
- Salary Range: $22,666 to $51,323
- Minimum Qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent
How to Become One: Typically, animal caretakers must have at least a high school diploma or GED. Most training takes place on the job, but some choose to study at a grooming school. Employers generally prefer candidates to have some experience working with animals.
2. Pet Sitter and Dog Walker
Pet sitters and dog walkers care for pets while owners are traveling or unavailable. You might choose to work through a service that pays you as an employee or hire your own services out as a freelance dog walker or pet sitter. In the latter case, you may make more money per job but will also have to handle your own marketing and business administration expenses.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $31,095
- Salary Range: $20,211 to $45,826
- Minimum Qualifications: varies
How to Become One: Employers may require a high school diploma or GED and some training or certification. However, if you want to freelance as a dog walker, you may just need experience and references, so concerned pet owners can learn more about you.
3. Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary assistants work in a vet office, clinic or animal hospital helping veterinarians with animal care. They are responsible for assisting with routine tasks, which might include checking in patients or helping as the vet provides services.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $30,898
- Salary Range: $19,431 to $43,072
- Minimum Qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent
How to Become One: If you want to become a veterinary assistant, you should at least have a high school diploma. Most veterinary assistants learn their trade on the job. Certification isn’t always required, but it could help you get promoted or obtain an advanced position.
4. Research Animal Caretaker
Laboratory animal caretakers work in labs with animal scientists, biologists or veterinarians. They feed, care for and monitor the well-being of lab animals.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $37,890
- Salary Range: $35,215 to $46,105
- Minimum Qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent
How to Become One: Laboratory animal caretakers are required to at least have a high school diploma. Most laboratory animal caretakers learn their trade through on-the-job training. Certification isn’t required to become a laboratory animal caretaker, but some employers prefer it. Having a certification could also help you get promoted.
5. Animal Trainer
Animal trainers are responsible for training animals for tasks such as riding, performance, obedience or assisting the disabled. They can also help animals become more comfortable with human interaction.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $30,430
- Salary Range: $20,810 to $59,110
- Minimum Qualifications: no formal education requirements
How to Become One: There are no formal education requirements to become an animal trainer. Those who train animals usually receive on-the-job training. In addition, animal trainers can receive education through organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States and earn certificates or other credentials to help them move up in their careers.
6. Veterinary Technician
Veterinary technicians perform medical testing with the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. They help diagnose an animal’s injury or illness and may also perform some routine procedures, such as ultrasounds, catheterization or EKGs, and administer anesthesia.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $35,308
- Salary Range: $24,619 to $48,002
- Minimum Qualifications: an associate degree
How to Become One: Typically, you must complete at least an associate degree or get a certification from an accredited program. Depending on the state, you may need to pass an exam and become registered, licensed or certified. Many employers look for techs with at least some experience in the field, which means many vet techs start in an assistant position.
7. Animal Control Worker
Animal control workers help ensure the proper treatment of animals, investigate cases of mistreatment, may help locate abandoned animals and may be called on to deal with nuisance animals of certain types.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $38,490
- Salary Range: $23,160 to $58,220
- Minimum Qualifications: varies by location
How to Become One: Animal control workers are required to have a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent. Additional training usually takes place on the job. The National Animal Care & Control Association offers training programs. In addition, some states require certification in animal control.
8. Conservation & Forest Technician
Conservation and forest workers help keep track of wildlife, gather data, suppress forest fires and work to improve the health of forests. They may lead guided tours or help train others in managing natural habitats.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $39,180
- Salary Range: $26,160 to $56,410
- Minimum Qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent
How to Become One: In many cases, all you need is a high school diploma. You receive on-the-job training, but you can potentially advance your career with certifications or degrees in various sciences.
9. Breeder
Breeders select and breed animals according to characteristics and genealogy. They may use artificial insemination equipment and need to keep meticulous records on animal health, genetics, dates of birth and family history.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $46,420
- Salary Range: $26,030 to $69,550
- Minimum Qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent
How to Become One: Animal breeders are required to have a minimum of a high school education. In addition, breeders learn their skill through short-term on-the-job training. Those who want to breed zoo animals are required to have a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science and, depending on career goals, may also want to pursue postgraduate study in zoology.
10. Biological Technician
Biological technicians help medical scientists in the laboratory. They are responsible for the setup, operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment. They also monitor experiments.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $49,110
- Salary Range: $29,540 to $73,350
- Minimum Qualifications: bachelor’s degree
How to Become One: Biological technicians generally need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a similar field. Technicians must also acquire laboratory experience and a working knowledge of computers and lab equipment.
11. Zoologist & Wildlife Biologist
Zoologists and wildlife biologists study how animals and wildlife interact with their environment. They may also help care for animals in captivity.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $67,200
- Salary Range: $38,880 to $101,780
- Minimum Qualifications: bachelor’s degree
How to Become One: A bachelor’s degree is necessary for those seeking entry-level positions. A master’s degree is usually required for advanced or scientific positions. Those who want to lead independent research or work at a university might want to consider a doctoral degree.
12. Conservation Scientist
Conservation land managers work with conservation groups, landowners or other entities to protect specific wildlife and land. Often, they do so because the area is a habitat for certain animals, particularly endangered animals.
Here are the job details:
- Median Salary: $67,040
- Salary Range: $39,270 to $98,060
- Minimum Qualifications: bachelor’s degree
How to Become One: Conservation scientists usually need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, preferably in natural resource management, agriculture or another related field. Experience can be gained through internships and volunteer work. Some states require those desiring to become foresters to obtain a license.
Start Working Now to Land a Job Working with Animals
First, check out Monster.com‘s resume services and bring out the most relevant facts in your work history. Get tips and help polishing your resume so it shines when it hits employee inboxes or application systems. Then, upload your resume to ZipRecruiter and start connecting immediately with employers who are looking for people with a passion for jobs working with animals.
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