The median pay for Animal Scientists is $68,940 a year ($33.14/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% through 2035, with about 200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-1011
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Animal Scientist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $68,940a year, or $33.14/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $44KTop 10% $166K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.8%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2003,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20253.4K
- Projected 20353.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 3.4K Projected 2035 3.6K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate4.4%
- Associate's4.4%
- Bachelor's13%
- Master's21.7%
- Doctorate43.5%
- Post-doctoral training13%
Highest education held by animal scientists Segment Value Certificate 4.4% Associate's 4.4% Bachelor's 13% Master's 21.7% Doctorate 43.5% Post-doctoral training 13%
Also advertised as: Animal Nutrition Consultant, Animal Nutritionist, Animal Scientist, Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Beef Cattle Specialist, Companion Animal Nutritionist.
Pay
How much do Animal Scientists make?
Every animal scientist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$68,940
Middle half earn $49,770 to $103,300
- 10th
- $44,350
- 25th
- $49,770
- 75th
- $103,300
- 90th
- $166,000
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $44,350 |
| 25th | $49,770 |
| Median | $68,940 |
| 75th | $103,300 |
| 90th | $166,000 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $68,940
- Median hourly wage
- $33.14/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $88,350
- People employed
- 3,100
Versus all US occupations
At $68,940, Animal Scientists earn 35% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $17,960 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $166,000 or more while the bottom 10% earn $44,350, a gap of 3.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 44% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Texas pays the most at $132,830, and still leads at $136,858 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Animal Scientists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Texas | $132,830 | $136,858 | 40 |
| 2Minnesota | $88,640 | $89,879 | 100 |
| 3Wisconsin | $84,310 | $89,601 | 280 |
| 4Washington | $83,160 | $77,710 | 40 |
| 5Kansas | $80,090 | $88,922 | N/A |
| 6Maryland | $77,750 | $74,077 | 190 |
| 7Pennsylvania | $77,660 | $79,593 | 90 |
| 8South Dakota | $77,300 | $87,260 | 90 |
| 9Iowa | $75,290 | $85,789 | 60 |
| 10North Dakota | $72,100 | $81,049 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Animal Scientist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Animal Scientists | +5.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Animal Scientists to change 5.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 200 openings are projected each year, 5.9% of the 3,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of agricultural and food scientists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
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.
Getting in
How to become an Animal Scientist
Agricultural and food scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in animal science, food science, plant biology, or a related field. Employers may prefer or require a master’s or doctoral degree.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable 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 scientists.
- Doctoral Degree43.5%
- Master's Degree21.7%
- Bachelor's Degree13%
- Post-Doctoral Training13%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 43.5% |
| Master's Degree | 21.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 13% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 13% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Animal Scientist do?
Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of agricultural and food production establishments.
Day-to-day 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most agricultural and food scientists work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
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 dayCost 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
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Writing4.0
- Science4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Monitoring3.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Science | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Electronic mail software
- Human resources 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 Scientist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Animal Scientist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative6.9
- Realistic5.2
- Conventional3.4
- Enterprising2.4
- Social2.0
- Artistic2.0
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 Scientist
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Management
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Educational Instruction and Library
Agricultural Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary
$98,700median a year
Most earn $51K to $163K
+2.9%Doctorate
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with animal scientists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Animal Scientist$68,940
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within animal scientist
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Animal Scientist appears on
Questions
Animal Scientist: frequently asked questions
How much do Animal Scientists make?
Animal Scientists earn a median of $68,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 35% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $33.14/hr. The middle half earn between $49,770 and $103,300. The top 10% earn $166,000 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Animal Scientist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Animal Scientists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 43.5% hold doctoral degree.
Is Animal Scientist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Animal Scientist do?
Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of agricultural and food production establishments. A core O*NET task: study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Computer aided design CAD software.
Which states pay Animal Scientists the most?
The highest state medians for Animal Scientists are Texas ($132,830), Minnesota ($88,640), Wisconsin ($84,310) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Animal Scientist?
O*NET scores Animal Scientists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.