Animal Scientists
Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
Also called: Animal Nutrition Consultant · Animal Nutritionist · Animal Scientist · Beef Cattle Nutritionist · Beef Cattle Specialist · Companion Animal Nutritionist
Median pay (national)
$79,120
$48,440–$235,750 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
2,470
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+5.8%
~200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for animal scientists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $235,750 versus $48,440 at the bottom 10% — 4.9x. The median of $79,120 leaves roughly 198% 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 +5.8% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 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 16 states with released data, Minnesota pays the most for this role (median $138,030, +74% vs the national median), while Nebraska sits lowest at $51,270 — a 169% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Writing, Science 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.
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Determine genetic composition of animal populations and heritability of traits, using principles of genetics.
- Crossbreed animals with existing strains or cross strains to obtain new combinations of desirable characteristics.
Tools & technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- SAS
- Structured query language SQL
- Tableau
- Best Linear Unbiased Prediction BLUP
- Cowculator
- COWGAME
- DAGRIS
- Database software
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis software
- Domestic Animal Diversity Information Service DAD-IS
- FEEDLOT CALC
- Master Ration Calculator
- Nutrition Balance Analyzer NUTBAL
Knowledge areas
- Biology
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Food Production
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics