Animal breeders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $51,130 | $24.58 |
| Mean (average) | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| 90th percentile | $90,550 | $43.53 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Animal breeders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 9 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,200 | $25,190 | $64,600 | 60 | 3.17 |
| California | $59,280 | $47,400 | $94,450 | 410 | 2.6 |
| Minnesota | $47,900 | $38,480 | $56,310 | 170 | 6.65 |
| Nebraska | $40,220 | $39,530 | $43,210 | 40 | 4.23 |
| New York | $48,350 | $41,360 | $73,660 | 140 | 1.72 |
| Ohio | $68,980 | $43,110 | $140,850 | 80 | 1.77 |
| South Dakota | $44,850 | $38,480 | $48,750 | 40 | 10.72 |
| Texas | $48,410 | $32,970 | $73,260 | 60 | 0.46 |
| Wisconsin | $51,130 | $42,900 | $59,170 | 40 | 1.63 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for animal breeders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for animal breeders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production CIP 01.0302
- Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management CIP 01.0307
- Apiculture CIP 01.0310
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
- Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
- 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.
- Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Breedtrak
- Email software
- KinTraks
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Animal Technician, Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician), Artificial Inseminator, Breeder, Dog Breeder, Large Herd Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do animal breeders make?
The national median annual wage for animal breeders was $51,130 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,480 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $90,550. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do animal breeders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is animal breeders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of animal breeders to change +3.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay animal breeders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Ohio ($68,980), California ($59,280), Alabama ($53,200). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.