Animal Scientists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Animal Scientists fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Animal Scientists earn a median salary of $79,120 per year, ranking in the top 24% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +5.8% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do animal scientists earn?

The median annual wage for animal scientists is $79,120. That puts animal scientists at #198 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is animal scientists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for animal scientists is +5.8%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 2K positions in 2024 to 2K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do animal scientists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working animal scientists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
2. 2.Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
3. 3.Conduct research concerning animal nutrition, breeding, or management to improve products or processes.
4. 4.Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
5. 5.Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public.
6. 6.Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
7. 7.Research and control animal selection and breeding practices to increase production efficiency and improve animal quality.

Top skills for animal scientists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become animal scientist?

The standard path into animal scientists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about animal scientists