CDCareer Decision

Animal Scientists Salary in IA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Animal Scientists in IA have a median annual salary of $75,290, with 60 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $50,580 at the 10th percentile to $186,390 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$75,290

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$36.20

Employment

60

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$50,580
10th
$59,280
25th
$75,290
Median
$135,690
75th
$186,390
90th

Local compared with national

IA

$75,290

Median annual · 2025

United States

$68,940

Median annual · 2025

The IA median is 9.2% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $6,350).

Top skills

  1. 1.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.1
  2. 2.WritingImportance 4.0
  3. 3.ScienceImportance 4.0
  4. 4.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.0
  5. 5.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 4.0
  6. 6.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 4.0
  7. 7.Active ListeningImportance 3.9
  8. 8.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  9. 9.Active LearningImportance 3.9
  10. 10.MonitoringImportance 3.8
  11. 11.Systems AnalysisImportance 3.8
  12. 12.MathematicsImportance 3.4

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Job zone
5

Technology used

  • 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
  • Microsoft Office software

Common 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.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Animal Scientists salary in other locations

Other occupations in IA