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Animal Scientists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $68,940 Median per year · $33.14/hr Most earn $44,350–$166,000

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
  • Research and control animal selection and breeding practices to increase production efficiency and improve animal quality.
  • Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
  • Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
  • Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
  • Crossbreed animals with existing strains or cross strains to obtain new combinations of desirable characteristics.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools21.0%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences17.3%
  • Support activities for agriculture and forestry6.3%
  • Animal food manufacturing5.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)4.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Animal Scientist is not an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree plus about 2 to 4 years of related work experience, so the path usually takes roughly 10 to 14 years after high school.

  1. Bachelor's degree in animal science

    4 years

    You learn the basics of animal genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and health, and you build a foundation in biology and statistics.

  2. Research Technician (animal science lab or farm research unit)

    2-4 years

    You help run experiments, collect and record data on livestock, and learn the research methods that scientists use every day.

  3. Doctoral degree in animal science, genetics, or nutrition

    4-6 years

    You design and carry out your own research project, publish results, and become an independent researcher, which this career requires.

  4. Animal Scientist

    Career

    You lead research on the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of farm animals, often at a university, government agency, or industry company.

Where it can lead

  1. Professor of Animal Science

    2-4 years of experience first

    You shift toward teaching college students, leading a research lab, and winning grants, which usually means a faculty appointment at a university.

  2. Agricultural Manager

    Varies of experience first

    You move from research into running a farm, ranch, or agricultural operation, using your knowledge of animal science to make business and production decisions.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and advanced mathThese classes build the science and data skills you will need for a college animal science major.
  • Join FFA or a 4-H clubWorking with livestock projects gives you real experience caring for animals and talking about how they grow and stay healthy.
  • Enter a science fair with an animal or agriculture topicDesigning your own experiment teaches you the research process that scientists follow.
  • Volunteer at a farm, animal shelter, or veterinary clinicHands-on animal care shows you what the work is like and helps you decide if it fits you.
  • Get a summer job on a farm or ranchSeeing daily farm operations helps you understand the practical problems that animal scientists try to solve.

In college

  • Major in animal science or a related fieldA degree in animal science gives you the core knowledge in genetics, nutrition, and reproduction that this career is built on.
  • Take statistics and a research methods courseData analysis is a daily part of animal science research, and these courses make graduate school much easier.
  • Work as a research assistant in a professor's labCampus research jobs give you lab experience and often lead to letters of recommendation for graduate programs.
  • Join a student agricultural or livestock clubClubs build leadership and teamwork skills and connect you with professionals and peers in the field.
  • Apply for a summer internship at a university farm or agricultural companyAn internship shows you how research happens outside the classroom and strengthens your applications for graduate school.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on time with animals or farms early, since research jobs value people who have actually worked with livestock.
  • Strong math and writing skills matter a lot, because you will analyze data and write reports and papers for the rest of your career.
  • Talk to animal science professors or extension agents about research assistant jobs, which are often the easiest way into a research team.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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