Animal Scientists
Also called: Animal Anatomist, Animal Behaviorist, Animal Biologist, Animal Geneticist, Animal Nutrition Consultant, Animal Nutritionist, Animal Scientist, Bacteriologist
Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
What animal scientists do
Typical tasks
- Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
- Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public.
- Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
- Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
- Conduct research concerning animal nutrition, breeding, or management to improve products or processes.
- Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
- Research and control animal selection and breeding practices to increase production efficiency and improve animal quality.
- Determine genetic composition of animal populations and heritability of traits, using principles of genetics.
- Crossbreed animals with existing strains or cross strains to obtain new combinations of desirable characteristics.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Animal Scientists salary
The median annual wage for animal scientists is $68,940 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $44,350 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $166,000. The mean annual wage is $88,350.
The mean hourly wage of $42.00 is 5.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Animal Scientists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $68,940 → in 3 years $74,700 → in 5 years $78,900 → in 10 years $90,200 (10-year range $77,600–$104,800). The model assumes pay growth of +2.7% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Animal Scientists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Animal Scientists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Animal Scientists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Animal Scientists United States | 畜産技術者 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $68,940 | ¥6.12M ≈ $38,915 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $90,200 | ¥7.98M |
| Outlook score | 55 | 65 |
| AI replacement risk | 62% High | 17% Very low |
| Workers | 3,100 | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Animal Scientists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become animal scientists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as animal scientists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.