Animal Scientists Career, Salary and Skills
Animal Scientists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $68,940 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 3,100. Wage data is published for 24 locations.
Occupation description
Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
O*NET code
19-1011.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$68,940
Hourly median
$33.14
Employment
3,100
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$44,350
10th
$49,770
25th
$68,940
Median
$103,300
75th
$166,000
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 4.88 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.50 |
| Science | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.88 |
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.
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Best Linear Unbiased Prediction BLUP
- Cowculator
- COWGAME
- DAGRIS
- Database software
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis software
- Domestic Animal Diversity Information Service DAD-IS
- Email software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- FEEDLOT CALC
- Master Ration Calculator
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
Animal Scientists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Animal Scientists Salary in WIMedian $84,310 · Employment 280
- Animal Scientists Salary in Madison, WIMedian $84,310 · Employment 220
- Animal Scientists Salary in NEMedian $55,300 · Employment 210
- Animal Scientists Salary in MDMedian $77,750 · Employment 190
- Animal Scientists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $82,810 · Employment 160
- Animal Scientists Salary in MNMedian $88,640 · Employment 100
- Animal Scientists Salary in Lincoln, NEMedian $79,410 · Employment 100
- Animal Scientists Salary in PAMedian $77,660 · Employment 90
- Animal Scientists Salary in SDMedian $77,300 · Employment 90
- Animal Scientists Salary in MIMedian $60,010 · Employment 80
- Animal Scientists Salary in IAMedian $75,290 · Employment 60
- Animal Scientists Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $77,880 · Employment 60
Related careers
- Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansNational median $47,380
- Dietetic TechniciansNational median $37,640
- Biological TechniciansNational median $57,510
- Agricultural InspectorsNational median $49,940
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersNational median $38,150
- Dietitians and NutritionistsNational median $76,400
- Food Science TechniciansNational median $52,130
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNational median $36,670
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.