Hello I am thinking of getting into the field of taxidermy. How much does the average taxidermist make a year. I am in high school right now and I really want to be a taxidermist but I want to make sure there is at least a little money in it. Thanks.
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You're a beginner and can be forgiven ONCE for not reading the rules. Had you clicked that orange icon in the left margin and typed in "Taxidermy Earnings", you'll see that 20 other people have already asked that question and been answered.
You're best bet would be to go to college, and do taxidermy on the side until you get good at it, if you ever do. I've seen the work of taxidermists who have been in business for many years, and they are pretty sorry looking. How much can you make? Depends a lot on where you live. Breakthrough Magazine did a taxidermy survey a couple of years ago. Contact them, they'll probably be able to get you a copy of what you want. It listed what people reported as gross incomes, state-by-state.
One of the biggest problems I've had is the lack of health insurance, due to 'pre-existing conditions.' If you can afford to pay your own insurance, great.
Good luck in whatever you do with your future!
Just ask Archie Phillips. There maybe suppliers with a better product, but have less success than Archie. Why? Because he is business oriented and motivated. He will tell you by just the fact that you live in America that you CAN make it and make good money doing it. ATTENTION TO EVERYONE ELSE: By no means am I saying that Archie has bad products, so get a glass of tea and calm down. Mark, it does help to be a self starter, be a good student, and have some artistic ability. I say being a good student helps because it shows that you have the ability to learn. Even the stuff that you will never in your life use again. If your really interested, I would invest in some books and videos about taxidermy and business. Both can be found in supply catalogs found here in the taxidermy.net under suppliers. From what I can tell, you do know how to read and write(you would be surprised), and ask good questions. So I say you have a fighting chance here. Also, the search button here has a ton of info on just about any related subject here. Blessings to ya, have fun.
at least 2.7 mill in a good year
Is that 2 million Iraqis dinars or 2 million Mexican pesos?
Very few individuals get rich doing taxidermy . As Johnny Cash
states in his song Folsom Prison Blues, "I've seen em come and
go and I've seen em die . The only persons who have really made
it big in taxidermy usually were well off financially prior to
entering taxidermy or, have A retirement Income. You can have a
booming business,a large shop, a substantial bank account,and
lose it all due to A serious illness in the family.especially if
you have no health insurance. I have a close friend who has this
problem now. Competition is another factor. I charge $300.00 for
a deer head .Others in this area are charging $190.00 -$230.00
I have been in taxidermy over forty years, once entered state
southern regional and national competitions ,and had a wall full
of award ribbons. however my business has diminished 75 per cent
due to the fact that many clients only consider the price of a
mount and not quality
I have higher prices than anyone because my mounts are the best in the world. Since nobody else can afford them...I buy them from myself since I'm a Billionaire...then write it off on taxes as Studio Display Trophies for Advertising purpose.
Hope this helps and inspires you.
~ ETCC
There might be a few cents in it...there is a lot of work to it try skinning four or five fish a day then tell me what you got for it...that is if your working for someone else...and if your doing all your own work you got to be real good at it cause there is a lot of competition out there?