Animal Breeders earn a median of $51,130 per year ($24.58/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.0% through 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 45-2021
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Animal Breeder in four numbers
- Median pay
- $51,130a year, or $24.58/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $91K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.0%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,0006,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20256.9K
- Projected 20357.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 6.9K Projected 2035 7.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school85.7%
- Certificate5.7%
- Some college4.5%
- Bachelor's3.4%
- Post-bacc certificate0.6%
Highest education held by animal breeders Segment Value High school 85.7% Certificate 5.7% Some college 4.5% Bachelor's 3.4% Post-bacc certificate 0.6%
Also advertised as: Animal Technician, Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician), Artificial Inseminator, Breeder, Dog Breeder, Large Herd Specialist.
Pay
How much do Animal Breeders make?
Every animal breeder in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$51,130
Middle half earn $44,320 to $62,080
- 10th
- $38,480
- 25th
- $44,320
- 75th
- $62,080
- 90th
- $90,550
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,480 |
| 25th | $44,320 |
| Median | $51,130 |
| 75th | $62,080 |
| 90th | $90,550 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $51,130
- Median hourly wage
- $24.58/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $57,010
- People employed
- 1,330
Versus all US occupations
At $51,130, the median for Animal Breeders sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
Inside the Farming, Fishing, and Forestry group, where the middle occupation pays $45,005, this is 14% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $90,550 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,480, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 24% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Ohio pays the most at $68,980, and still leads at $74,353 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Animal Breeders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ohio | $68,980 | $74,353 | 80 |
| 2California | $59,280 | $53,540 | 410 |
| 3Alabama | $53,200 | $59,894 | 60 |
| 4Wisconsin | $51,130 | $54,339 | 40 |
| 5Texas | $48,410 | $49,878 | 60 |
| 6New York | $48,350 | $44,801 | 140 |
| 7Minnesota | $47,900 | $48,570 | 170 |
| 8South Dakota | $44,850 | $50,629 | 40 |
| 9Nebraska | $40,220 | $44,638 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Animal Breeder a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Animal Breeders | +3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Animal Breeders to change 3.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, 14.5% of the 6,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of agricultural workers varies by occupation (see table).
Despite increased demand for crops and other agricultural products, demand for some types of farmworkers and agricultural workers is expected to be limited as agricultural establishments continue to use technologies that increase farmworkers’ productivity.
Getting in
How to become an Animal Breeder
Most agricultural workers do not need a formal educational credential to enter these occupations; however, animal breeders typically need at least a high school diploma. Agricultural workers typically receive on-the-job training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as animal breeders.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)85.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate5.7%
- Some College Courses4.5%
- Bachelor's Degree3.4%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 85.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5.7% |
| Some College Courses | 4.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 3.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Animal Breeder do?
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.
Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend livestock. They perform physical labor and operate machinery under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
- Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
- Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.
- Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because living crops and animals need constant care, workers’ schedules may vary to include early mornings, weekends, and holidays.
Many agricultural workers have seasonal schedules. Seasonal schedules typically include longer periods of work during planting or harvesting or when animals must be sheltered and fed.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Science3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Writing2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Operations Monitoring2.9
- Time Management2.8
- Social Perceptiveness2.6
- Operation and Control2.6
- Quality Control Analysis2.6
- Coordination2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.6 |
| Operation and Control | 2.6 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.6 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer based training software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Animal Breeder?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Animal Breeder |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.4
- Conventional3.6
- Investigative3.4
- Social2.4
- Enterprising2.0
- Artistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Animal Breeder
O*NET related occupations
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animal
$36,670median a year
Most earn $27K to $54K
−3.2%No formal credential - Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Healthcare Support
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker
$38,150median a year
Most earn $30K to $49K
+9.1%High school - Management
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
$35,660median a year
Most earn $33K to $46K
−2.4%No formal credential
More farming, fishing, and forestry careers
Median annual pay, with animal breeders highlighted
- First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320
- Cannabis Cultivation Director$59,320
- Faller$52,100
- Animal Breeder$51,130
- Agricultural Inspector$49,940
- Logging Equipment Operator$49,740
- Log Grader and Scaler$46,330
- Agricultural Equipment Operator$41,730
- Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,320 |
| Cannabis Cultivation Director | $59,320 |
| Faller | $52,100 |
| Animal Breeder | $51,130 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $49,940 |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 |
| Log Grader and Scaler | $46,330 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 |
| Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Animal Breeder: frequently asked questions
How much do Animal Breeders make?
Animal Breeders earn a median of $51,130 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), close to the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $24.58/hr. The middle half earn between $44,320 and $62,080. The top 10% earn $90,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Animal Breeder?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Animal Breeders. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 85.7% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Animal Breeder a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.0% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Animal Breeder do?
Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend livestock. A core O*NET task: select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Desktop publishing software, Document management software.
Which states pay Animal Breeders the most?
The highest state medians for Animal Breeders are Ohio ($68,980), California ($59,280), Alabama ($53,200) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Animal Breeder?
O*NET scores Animal Breeders highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.