Agricultural Technicians vs Animal Scientists
Entry path fork: Agricultural Technicians (Associate's degree) vs Animal Scientists (Bachelor's degree)
Same-group titles on each education path
Title set and side labels change with each pair, so sibling compare pages diverge here before shared KPI chrome.
- 1. Anthropologists and Archeologists · near Agricultural Technicians
- 2. Astronomers · near Agricultural Technicians
- 3. Atmospheric and Space Scientists · near Agricultural Technicians
- 4. Biochemists and Biophysicists · near Agricultural Technicians
Task mix after each typical entry path
Task phrases are occupation-specific and survive digit/entity normalization, the residual twin mass after dose-1 chrome forks.
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring. · Agricultural Technicians (SOC 19-4012)
- Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks. · Agricultural Technicians (SOC 19-4012)
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care. · Agricultural Technicians (SOC 19-4012)
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness. · Agricultural Technicians (SOC 19-4012)
- Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials. · Animal Scientists (SOC 19-1011)
- Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public. · Animal Scientists (SOC 19-1011)
- Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals. · Animal Scientists (SOC 19-1011)
- Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts. · Animal Scientists (SOC 19-1011)
Agricultural Technicians · typical entry
Associate's degree
No related experience assigned
Animal Scientists · typical entry
Bachelor's degree
No related experience assigned
Entry requirements diverge before pay does: Agricultural Technicians is assigned Associate's degree while Animal Scientists is assigned Bachelor's degree. That fork shapes time-to-entry; wage and outlook tables remain below for the same pair.
Outlook still differs: Agricultural Technicians +4.3% vs Animal Scientists +5.8% through 2034 · openings 2,900 vs 200/yr.
State pay after entry-path fork
States with dual OEWS rows for Agricultural Technicians and Animal Scientists, listed A-Z (geography mass, not a shared pay-gap sort).
| State | Agricultural Technicians | Animal Scientists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $46,410 | $47,930 | $-1,520 |
| Iowa | $64,070 | $75,290 | $-11,220 |
| Kansas | $47,200 | $80,090 | $-32,890 |
| Maryland | $49,680 | $77,750 | $-28,070 |
| Michigan | $42,780 | $60,010 | $-17,230 |
| Minnesota | $57,310 | $88,640 | $-31,330 |
| Nebraska | $47,420 | $55,300 | $-7,880 |
| North Dakota | $46,960 | $72,100 | $-25,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,800 | $77,660 | $-28,860 |
| South Dakota | $41,420 | $77,300 | $-35,880 |
| Texas | $50,270 | $132,830 | $-82,560 |
| Washington | $48,220 | $83,160 | $-34,940 |
| Wisconsin | $46,470 | $84,310 | $-37,840 |
Entry path: Agricultural Technicians vs Animal Scientists
| Signal | Agricultural Technicians | Animal Scientists |
|---|---|---|
| Typical entry · Agricultural Technicians vs Animal Scientists | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Related experience · Animal Scientists | None | None |
| OEWS median annual · Agricultural Technicians | $49,630 | $68,940 |
| Job growth 2024-2034 · Agricultural Technicians | +4.3% | +5.8% |
| Annual openings · Animal Scientists side | 2,900 | 200 |
| OEWS total employment · 19-0000 | 15,130 | 3,100 |
| OEWS median hourly · Agricultural Technici… | $23.86/hr | $33.14/hr |
| OEWS mean annual · Animal Scientists | $53,840 | $88,350 |
| 10th-percentile annual · Agricultural band | $35,980 | $44,350 |
| 90th-percentile annual · Animal band | $76,480 | $166,000 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025 release). Salary figures are annual medians and percentile bands published by BLS.
Common Questions
Which pays more, Agricultural Technicians or Animal Scientists?
Which has better job outlook?
What entry education does each side require?
Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.