Animal Breeders
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.
Also called: Animal Technician · Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician) · Artificial Inseminator · Breeder · Dog Breeder · Large Herd Specialist
Median pay (national)
$52,000
$37,130–$89,970 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
1,730
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.4%
~1,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for animal breeders shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $89,970 versus $37,130 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $52,000 leaves roughly 73% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.4% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 9 states with released data, Ohio pays the most for this role (median $71,930, +38% vs the national median), while Alabama sits lowest at $29,140 — a 147% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Science
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
- 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.
- 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.
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.
- Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
- Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
- Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals' health and safety.
Tools & technology
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Windows
- Breedtrak
- KinTraks
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Questionmark Perception
- Respondus
- Reudink Software ZooEasy
- VSN International GenStat
- Winners Programs BirdStud
- Winners Programs Uni-Stud
- Adobe Acrobat
- Email software
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Production and Processing
- English Language