Hi,
ok im 19 yrs old and live in eastern Washington. Im in auto mechanics right now but i dont like it and want a new career path. Ive always wanted to do taxidermy but my parents dont think it would pay very much. Im wondering if i can make a living at it. A good living? Can Taxidermy be my only source of income? If your a Taxidermist could u tell me what u make a year? thanx. any info would be appreciated.
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Guess what? This must be your unlucky day. You have just crossed paths with a mom who has a 19 year old son who plans on going to Wyo Tech for automotive classes because "that's what he likes". Kyle, my first instinct is to tell you, "Please GO! Do what you want or don't want but just get the hell out of my house!" And that's from a mothers point of view, ( 1 gl of milk, 1 roll toilet paper, toilet clogged, 2 bathtowels, 3 washrags, muddy footprints, cereal bowl left on table, dogs mysteriously begging at table for food, "nothing in the house to eat", spats with nine year old sister, day after day, etc., etc.,....! )However, from a guilt induced mothers point of view, I'd say, "Honey,.....why in the name of all that's sane, would you want to become a...a......a......(whispered) taxidermist? Where have I steered you wrong? I always TRIED to be a good mother!"......sorry, I regress....shaking my head I come back to reality. Kyle, for the first ten years IF YOUR GOOD AT IT, it won't be a good enough "living". Keep up that automotive bloodline for a "side job" when necessary. Notice I said WHEN necessary, or marry a woman with a head on her shoulders for job security. In all seriousness, IF you are serious and damn good as a taxidermist, it will be a good thing. If not, keep plenty of spare carburetor, engines, and catalytic converters strewn about your parents yard, as WELL as at LEAST four piece's of schitt CARS laying all about for such future opportunities as "fixing them up and selling them for twenty times what you paid for them" or " using spare parts off them to fix the other 'pieces' up that could use fixing, if only you had the spare parts of which to fix them WITH". Need I go on?
It's funny how life deals us tricks. I've been HOPING my son would have an interest in taxidermy, but cars have much more appeal to him. Kyle, keep taxidermy as a side hobby for now, don't let it go, but don't expect it to support you at first either.
Good luck Kid.
let's put it in simple terms. About 90% of all taxidermist barely scathe by in making a living. Usually all our profit goes to taxes, business expenses and cost of living. At the end of the month most of us don't have much left over. So if you are looking for a "good" living with luxury do not choose taxidermy. Taxidermist do this out of love for the work they do, not because of the money. Stick with your automechanics or get a desk job. Either way it will pay more than a taxidermy career.
Kyle,
I taught high school Bio. for ten years, and I'm a stay at home Dad/taxidermist right now. I live in a rural area and the market for taxidermy is not as great as other areas. Also, I know for a fact it will take a few years to become established and for people to trust your work. Would you take your trophy to a guy who just opened his business? I was pretty fortunate last year in getting as much work as I did due to having some exposure to the people in the community through my teaching job.
I still did not make any money at it last year, but since my wife has a teaching job and benefits, taxidermy for me right now is not full time, and not really a necessity. Its a great position to be in because it is allowing me to get some years of experience, before I need to be working at it as a full time job.
If there is a market for work in your area, and you are a self motivated person willing to work long hours and have good financial and business sense, you could do fine. But you will also find out that there is a lot of tinkering and hair pulling at first, and then there is also just a lot of plain work that has to be done when it has to be done.
If you still intend to pursue it, make sure you get some references from others as far as quality training programs, it can make a huge difference. Also, you should have some artistic ability. And before you dive into it, you can get some basic training manuals and videos without investing too much, that would be enough help for you to try a mount of some kind first to see if you would enjoy it.
kyle, well i cant say about the taxi side, i do that for enjoyment not work, but the auto side i do every day 50 or more hours a week. so put into consideration, how good are you with computers? cars these days are soooooo computerized is amazing and its only going to be more and more. are you willing to continue you schooling for the rest of your life ? there isnt an end to what you have to work on that will be different than what you have seen in last years cars.
how do you like the weather? you will be bussiest when its searing hot or freezin cold! ( this am at a balmy 0 my pen kept freezing up checking in cars) i have a son to, and i want him to do any thing but work in automotive. and also the chemicals we work with daily, are equal or worse than ones in taxidermy.
your young think about all your options! and good luck
If you dont have any responcabilities like kids and a wife. GO FOR IT. Its like anythig in life "Hard work, works". Your 19, live your life to the foolest. Make mistakes and learn from them. It all is made easyer when you put your life in GODS hands. Pry about it, It works for me all the time.
I live in eastern WA myself and have done okay as a part time taxidermist. This part of the country is a great place to start if you want to build a client base. The money is not great but the work is . If your really interested e-mail me for more info. . IF you live close I might have some fleshing work for ya ..