Taxonomist Career Profile

How do I become a Taxonomist?

READ: This page helps you to read about the career and the info you need to decide on whether this is indeed the career you want to follow.

RESEARCH: ​Learn about the skills required and minimum subjects to enter this career, as well as the places where you can study further after school.

PREPARE: If you want to plan and prepare for the career, then join the OZT Community! Members have access to tools, while chatting with other students and experts from around the world. Prepare to be amazed!

CAREER MENTORS

Mentor Avatar
Join Us!

UPDATED:

21 May 2023

Adverts:

What is a Taxonomist?

A taxonomist is a scientist who gathers, studies, classifies and scientifically names plants, animals and natural elements.

Animal Health 1

Career Categories

The Taxonomist career can be found within the following OZT career categories:​

  • Scientific Specialists
  • Marine Conservation
  • Wildlife Conservation

What does a Taxonomist do?

Groups of animals a Taxonomist works with

Cats List Icon
Cats
Dogs List Icon OZT
Dogs
Critters List Icon OZT
Critters
Farm Animals Icon OZT
Farm Animals
Mammals List Icon OZT
Mammals
Birds List Icon OZT
Birds
Fish List Icon OZT
Fish
Reptiles List Icon OZT
Reptiles
Amphibians List Icon OZT
Amphibians
Crustaceans List Icon OZT
Crustaceans
Mollusks Link Icon OZT
Mollusks

What is the level of Interaction with the Animals?

What does a Taxonomist focus on?

A Taxonomist focusses on the scientific study of animals to ensure that the species are correctly identified for future scientific use.

There are a few interesting and important topics focused on within this career:

  • The use of DNA or genetics
  • Geography or area the animals were found

What are the daily tasks of a Taxonomist?

  • Plan and travel to study area
  • Collect animals for study
  • Collect data of surrounding area and take photographs
  • Keep proper record of findings
  • Do DNA sampling of specimens
  • Identify and if necessary name new species
  • Attend seminars
  • Write reports
  • Administration and filing

The work Environment of a Taxonomist

Where does a Taxonomist work?

Environment –

Some Taxonomists spend the majority of their time in an office or laboratory while others spend time in the field searching for new plants and animals.

Doing tests and writing reports can be done indoors.

Places of Employment –

In most cases a Taxonomist is employed by research institutions, universities, museums, governments or private genetic laboratories.

What is the average annual salary of a Taxonomist?

The average salary of a permanent Taxonomist is around US76,000 per year. The salary will depend on the country and kind of employer.

Can a Taxonomist be promoted?

Depending on the institution they are employed at, there could be good promotional opportunities.

Basic promotion levels:

Intern > Junior Taxonomist > Senior Taxonomist > Head of Department or Research

What are the difficulties a Taxonomist may face?

They may be required to work irregular hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays and in difficult weather.

Future Growth and Career Outlook

The current annual growth for Taxonomist as a career is high with a drastic shortage world wide of highly qualified individuals. The scientific community even has a name for it, ” taxonic impedement”.

Future gowth will be for taxonomists with artistic talents to contribute towards scientific illustrations.

Availability of Jobs

Good

Which Skills are required for a Taxonomist?

The skills required for a career as a Taxonomist can be divided into two very important groups. The first is the group containing life skills, which are the core skills that are necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. The second group is career skills, or the specific skills required to allow a person to enter and operate effectively within a specific career. Some or maybe even all of the life skills can assist in strengthening the career skills, and they might even be the same for specific careers.

Life Skills:

  • Self-awareness
  • Empathy
  • Critical thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Decision making
  • Problem Solving
  • Effective communication
  • Interpersonal relationship
Life Skills
40%

Career Skills

  • Handling animals
  • Handling equipment
  • Customer service skills
  • Good health and physical fitness
  • Excellent computer literacy
Career Skills
60%

Which subjects must I have at school to prepare for this career?

The subjects you choose at school are important as they lay the foundation for further studies at college or university. While still at school, it’s also important to learn more about the animals you will work with, as well as gain some experience.

OZT has a list of various tertiary institutions where you can study further, after school. Each of these institutions also have their own Group page on OZT where you will find the exact subjects they require of you to have passed in school. Keep these requirements in mind, and discuss it with your school, guidance counselor and parents to ensure that you are prepared!

What will I need to Study to become a Taxonomist?

Minimum educational requirements

Generally, a Taxonomist must have at least a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree for an entry level job.

More scientific jobs will require a minimum of a Masters Degree. The top job seekers study even further to a Doctorate Degree (PhD).

Study Focus

Major –

Most Taxonomists start off with an undergraduate degree in majors such as zoology, biology or animal science.

They specialize in research and methadology through most of the degree, as well as in Masters and Doctorate studies.

Short Courses –

Much of the practical things you will do need to be learned through the completion of short courses, such as identifying animals, using the right tools, and learning more about the specialized software used by Taxonomists.

Study Duration

The duration of Bachelor’s Degrees are between 3 and 4 years. Masters can take another 2 to 3 years. short courses differ, but can range from a few days to a few weeks.

Possible Career Preparation Paths

If this is your dream career that you want to pursue, then it’s important to plan the way forward.

Why is planning important?

To ensure that you understand the requirements for your career, and that you are always prepared for the next step on the road towards your dream. A Preparation Path is like your road map to where you want to go.

Possible Path(s):

Possible Combined Career Paths

It is possible to sometimes combine two or more related careers. This normally happens when you study and practice a specific main career, but the knowledge and experience gained also help you to have a paying hobby or secondary income career.

Possible Alternative(s):

Training and apprenticeship

Even though it is important to study to get into some of the animal careers, most of the skills you will need will be acquired through on-the-job training. This means that you will learn how to perform some of the daily tasks by actually doing it a few times and learning the steps.

In some cases entry level positions (or junior Taxonomist) require training sessions even before you are allowed to actually perform your job duties. These sessions are offered by the place of employment, after you have successfully applied.

Apprenticeship is also possible where you need to learn skills from a more senior person or expert. The more hands on careers, such as a Taxonomist, might require apprenticeship.

Join the Taxonomists Group to learn more and even interact with the educational institutions that will help you secure your dream career!

Average level of education of those entering this career

High School Certificate 0%
Diploma or Short Courses 0%
Degree or Higher Studies 0%

Licenses, Certificates, Registration and Professional Organizations

Certain animal care careers require some form of legal certification to prove that you can indeed do the work, and work with the necessary equipment.

Learn more about requirements by joining the OZT Community.

Professional Organizations

  • I

Where can I study further?

All of the above information will help you understand more about the Career, including the fact that there are different paths to take to reach it. But if you are almost done with High School (Grades 11 or 12), you also need to start thinking about further studies, and WHERE you will study.

See the List of Universities, Colleges and Online Training Academies who offer courses towards taxonomy.

Do you want to Contribute?

Do you have information that you would like to contribute to this career?

My Story

Information

Mentorship

Resources

OZT Community Logo

Join our OZT Community and career Group

Join us as a special member and learn more about becoming a Taxonomist.

Members of the Platform have special access to:

  • Info on the best places where you can study (colleges, universities and online)
  • Expertly designed advice to prepare you for the career, and links to places where you can gain valuable experience. For some career experience is necessary, otherwise you wont get the job!
  • Top notch info on each of the different species you will work with
  • Make friends around the world and share knowledge 
  • Compete and win points, badges, games, prizes and certificates. Be the best of the best, while you learn and prepare!

If you have decided on being a Taxonomist, please click on the JOIN GROUP button. Members will be directed to the Group, and non-members will be assisted to register first.

If this career is NOT the career for you, then you may return to the MAIN CAREER menu to start a new search and learn about a different career.

[groups-listing include=315]

Other interesting Careers

Career Profiles and Resources

Career Mentors are Members who assist by volunteering to keep each Career Page factual and current, while mentoring Students in the related Career Group.

Learn More …

Contributions by expert members are always appreciated to allow the Students to make informed decisions. Please add your contribution through the attached Form:

Contribution Form

List of Career Mentors/Educators who have contributed to this Career info:

  •  

One Zoo Tree

A few pictures about the Career:

  • Link

We believe in feedback from our users. Please rate the career info, or leave us a comment on how we can improve on it

5 1 vote
Info Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Verified by MonsterInsights