45 Series · SOC 45-2021

Animal Breeders Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$51,130
Median / year
$90,550
Top 10% earn
+2.4%
Growth '23–'33
1,330
US workers

Animal Breeders earn a median of $51,130 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $51,130, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $38,480 (10th percentile) to $90,550 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,330 US workers. Ohio pays the most ($68,980), since pay varies by state and metro area.

45 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Animal Breeders earn a median of $51,130, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 36% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Farming, Fishing, and Forestry, it ranks #3 of 13 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.4% by 2033.

$51,130
Median annual wage
Top 64%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#3 of 13
in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
2.4×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Ohio at $68,980. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Animal Breeders (SOC 45-2021) pays a national median of $51,130 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $38,480 at the 10th percentile to $90,550 at the 90th, with a mean of $57,010 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,330 Americans work in this occupation across 9 reporting states and 4 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 23.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.2 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Ohio pays the highest state median at $68,980, which is +35% above the national figure. The top metro is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $69,070 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,330 jobs Median $51,130/yr

Median Salary

$51,130

per year

Median Hourly

$24.58/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$57,010

average

Employment

1,330

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Animal Breeders pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$51,130 Bottom 36% higher than 36% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 45-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Animal Breeders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Animal Breeders sits on the slower-growing side at +2.4% growth and $51,130 median pay.

Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Animal Breeders sits on the slower-growing side at +2.4% growth and $51,130 median pay. Scatter plot of 13 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000 -10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Farmworkers and Labo…Farmworkers, Farm, R…Agricultural Equipme…First-Line Superviso…Graders and Sorters,…Logging Equipment Op…Agricultural Inspect…Forest and Conservat…Agricultural Workers…FallersLog Graders and Scal…Logging Workers, All…Animal Breeders
Among 13 45-series occupations with growth data, Animal Breeders sits on the slower-growing side at +2.4% growth and $51,130 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2.4%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

1,200

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
B

Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

23.5/100K

Injury Rate

2.2/100

Danger Index

20.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Animal Breeders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Critical Thinking 3.3
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Science 3.0
Active Learning 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0
Reading Comprehension 2.9
Operations Monitoring 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.2
Sales and Marketing 3.9
Administration and Management 3.5
Biology 3.3
Mathematics 3.2
Administrative 3.1
Production and Processing 2.9
English Language 2.8
Mechanical 2.7
Economics and Accounting 2.7

Key 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.
  • ▸ Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.
  • ▸ Place vaccines in drinking water, inject vaccines, or dust air with vaccine powder to protect animals from diseases.
  • ▸ Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
  • ▸ Bathe and groom animals.
  • ▸ 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.
  • ▸ Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$38,480$44,320$51,130$62,080$90,550
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$18.50$21.31$24.58$29.85$43.53
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$38,480

25th Percentile

$44,320

Median

$51,130

75th Percentile

$62,080

90th Percentile

$90,550

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Ohio $68,980 2. California $59,280 3. Alabama $53,200 4. Wisconsin $51,130 5. Texas $48,410

Lowest Paying States

5. Nebraska $40,220 6. South Dakota $44,850 7. Minnesota $47,900 8. New York $48,350 9. Texas $48,410
View all 9 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Ohio $68,980 +35% above national
2 California $59,280 +16% above national
3 Alabama $53,200 +4% above national
4 Wisconsin $51,130 same as national
5 Texas $48,410 5% below national
6 New York $48,350 5% below national
7 Minnesota $47,900 6% below national
8 South Dakota $44,850 12% below national
9 Nebraska $40,220 21% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $69,070 2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $58,440 3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $49,350 4. Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $47,800

Lowest Paying Metros

0. Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $47,800 1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $49,350 2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $58,440 3. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $69,070
View all 4 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $69,070 +35% above national
2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $58,440 +14% above national
3 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $49,350 3% below national
4 Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $47,800 7% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 45 (farming fishing and forestry) with comparable pay and career paths.

Agricultural Equipment Operators

SOC 45-2091

Agricultural Inspectors

SOC 45-2011

Agricultural Workers, All Other

SOC 45-2099

Fallers

SOC 45-4021

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

SOC 45-2092
Compare Animal Breeders side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Animal Breeders make? ▼
The median annual salary for Animal Breeders is $51,130 ($24.58/hour). The salary range spans from $38,480 at the 10th percentile to $90,550 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Animal Breeders the most? ▼
Ohio pays the highest median salary for Animal Breeders at $68,980/year, which is +35% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Animal Breeders? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Animal Breeders is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Animal Breeders? ▼
Animal Breeders has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 23.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.2 per 100 workers.
Is Animal Breeders a good career? ▼
Employment for Animal Breeders is projected to grow 2.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 1,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Animal Breeders pay vary by state? ▼
Animal Breeders salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Ohio at $68,980/year, while Texas pays the least at $48,410/year. BLS data covers 9 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Animal Breeders? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Animal Breeders is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $69,070/year. BLS reports wage data for 4 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Animal Breeders pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $62,080/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Ohio leads at $68,980/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.