Animal Breeders Career, Salary and Skills
Animal Breeders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $51,130 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 1,330. Wage data is published for 12 locations.
Occupation description
Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.
O*NET code
45-2021.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$51,130
Hourly median
$24.58
Employment
1,330
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Science | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.88 | 2.75 |
Typical tasks
- Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
- Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
- Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
- Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics.
- Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury.
- Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
- Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Breedtrak
- Email software
- KinTraks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft SharePoint
Animal Breeders salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Animal Breeders Salary in CAMedian $59,280 · Employment 410
- Animal Breeders Salary in MNMedian $47,900 · Employment 170
- Animal Breeders Salary in NYMedian $48,350 · Employment 140
- Animal Breeders Salary in OHMedian $68,980 · Employment 80
- Animal Breeders Salary in ALMedian $53,200 · Employment 60
- Animal Breeders Salary in TXMedian $48,410 · Employment 60
- Animal Breeders Salary in New York, NYMedian $49,350 · Employment 50
- Animal Breeders Salary in WIMedian $51,130 · Employment 40
- Animal Breeders Salary in SDMedian $44,850 · Employment 40
- Animal Breeders Salary in NEMedian $40,220 · Employment 40
- Animal Breeders Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $58,440 · Employment —
- Animal Breeders Salary in San Diego, CAMedian $69,070 · Employment —
Related careers
- Agricultural InspectorsNational median $49,940
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNational median $35,730
- Food Scientists and TechnologistsNational median $88,720
- Fishing and Hunting WorkersNational median not published
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNational median $38,300
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm ProductsNational median not published
- Soil and Plant ScientistsNational median $78,850
- Slaughterers and Meat PackersNational median $40,130
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.