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Hunter

Also called trapper, deer hunter, fur trapper

Hunters track and pursue animals with the intention of trapping or killing them. They hunt animals for the purpose of gaining food and other animal products, recreation, trade or wildlife management. Hunters specialise in the skill of tracking down and shooting animals with weapons such as rifles and bows. They also use devices to trap animals for similar purposes.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects21 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €700 (Bulgaria) to €7,500 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational5 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training.Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Hunters and trappers · ILO

What you'd do

Hunters and trappers · ILO
  • Setting traps to catch mammals, birds or reptiles
  • Killing trapped or free mammals, birds or reptiles with firearms or other weapons
  • Skinning and otherwise treating killed mammals, birds or reptiles to obtain desired products for sale or delivery
  • Delivering or selling trapped live mammals, birds or reptiles
  • Repairing and maintaining equipment
Hunt animalsTrap animalsManage game management plansAcquire licences for the use of weaponsComply with wildlife hazard management programmes+ 4 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Fishing and Hunting Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers in the EU
371k340k304k 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
97,000 replacing leavers 28,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers21
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of hunters and trappers, 3 a surplus.
Hunters and trappers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €700 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,500 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers in the EU, women earn 16% more per hour than men. Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training is the usual route.

Highest qualification of market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 12%Vocational 44%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 34%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.09 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Repairing and maintaining equipment0.14
Delivering or selling trapped live mammals, birds or reptiles0.10
Skinning and otherwise treating killed mammals, birds or reptiles to obtain desired products for sale or delivery0.08
Setting traps to catch mammals, birds or reptiles0.06
Killing trapped or free mammals, birds or reptiles with firearms or other weapons0.06

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for hunters and trappers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).