Animal Scientists: salary, outlook & degrees
Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
Middle half $49,770–$103,300. 3,100 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 200 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Extensive preparation (usually a graduate degree).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Texas | $132,830 |
| Minnesota | $88,640 |
| Wisconsin | $84,310 |
| Washington | $83,160 |
| Kansas | $80,090 |
| Maryland | $77,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,660 |
| South Dakota | $77,300 |
| Iowa | $75,290 |
| North Dakota | $72,100 |
| Michigan | $60,010 |
| Nebraska | $55,300 |
| Illinois | $47,930 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- Madison WI$84,310
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV$82,810
- Lincoln NE$79,410
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD$77,880
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MD$63,740
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers AR$240,370
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI$76,530
- Omaha NE-IA$73,740
- Lansing-East Lansing MI$55,450
- Kansas City MO-KS$63,300
- New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$102,540
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
Knowledge used
- Biology
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Food Production
Work styles
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Realistic (hands-on) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Animal Scientists: questions
How much do animal Scientists make?
Animal Scientists earn a U.S. median $68,940 a year; the middle half earn $49,770 to $103,300 (BLS, May 2025).
Is animal Scientists a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 200 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be an animal Scientist?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 91% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-1011. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Animal Scientists: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/animal-scientists.