It has been discussed throughout this book that people in this industry are in it because they love animals. The money isn't a driving factor for becoming a veterinarian, vet tech, animal behaviorist, or any other type of animal care professional. Some people leave corporate jobs with high salaries for a better lifestyle and decent income because they want to work with animals. An economist formerly at a large corporation now earns considerably less at her current job as an economist at the Humane Society of the United States. A former banker is earning more as a dog trainer. Both are much happier.

Salaries for animal care professionals range from low to quite comfortable, depending on the job, experience, and geographic location. For an exact breakdown of salaries for first-year veterinarians, log onto www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/1yremploy.asp. There you will find the 2007 figures from the American Veterinary Medical Association. The figures range from low ($23,000) to mid ($55,000) to high (above $75,000).

The same salary logic of job, location, and experience also applies to marine biologists, biological scientists, ecologists, oceanographers, and zoologists. Among government workers, federal-level employees tend to make about $5,000 a year more than state workers. For example, a zoologist who works for the federal government can earn a median salary of $90,000, while a state-employed zoologist can earn $85,000 a year.

The truth of the old adage that money can't buy happiness depends on the person. People who work in this profession have passion and drive, a positive outlook on life, and a great quality of life. If you love animals, there is nothing better than having a career working with them.