19 Series · SOC 19-1011
Animal Scientists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $68,940
- Median / year
- $166,000
- Top 10% earn
- +5.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 3,100
- US workers
Animal Scientists earn a median of $68,940 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $68,940, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,350 (10th percentile) to $166,000 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,100 US workers. Texas pays the most ($132,830), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Animal Scientists earn a median of $68,940, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 61% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #37 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% by 2033.
- $68,940
- Median annual wage
- Top 39%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #37 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 3.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Texas at $132,830. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Animal Scientists (SOC 19-1011) pays a national median of $68,940 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $44,350 at the 10th percentile to $166,000 at the 90th, with a mean of $88,350 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 3,100 Americans work in this occupation across 13 reporting states and 12 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Texas pays the highest state median at $132,830, which is +93% above the national figure. The top metro is Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR at $240,370 - 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.
Median Salary
$68,940
per year
Median Hourly
$33.14/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$88,350
average
Employment
3,100
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Animal Scientists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$68,940 Top 39% higher than 61% of 825 US occupations
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 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Animal Scientists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Animal Scientists sits on the faster-growing side at +5.8% growth and $68,940 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+5.8%
About average
Annual Openings
200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
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 Scientists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$44,350
25th Percentile
$49,770
Median
$68,940
75th Percentile
$103,300
90th Percentile
$166,000
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 13 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $132,830 | +93% above national |
| 2 | Minnesota | $88,640 | +29% above national |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $84,310 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $83,160 | +21% above national |
| 5 | Kansas | $80,090 | +16% above national |
| 6 | Maryland | $77,750 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $77,660 | +13% above national |
| 8 | South Dakota | $77,300 | +12% above national |
| 9 | Iowa | $75,290 | +9% above national |
| 10 | North Dakota | $72,100 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Michigan | $60,010 | 13% below national |
| 12 | Nebraska | $55,300 | 20% below national |
| 13 | Illinois | $47,930 | 30% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 12 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $240,370 | +249% above national |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,540 | +49% above national |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $84,310 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,810 | +20% above national |
| 5 | Lincoln, NE | $79,410 | +15% above national |
| 6 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,880 | +13% above national |
| 7 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $77,300 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $76,530 | +11% above national |
| 9 | Omaha, NE-IA | $73,740 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,740 | 8% below national |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $63,300 | 8% below national |
| 12 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $55,450 | 20% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Animal Scientists make? ▼
What state pays Animal Scientists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Animal Scientists? ▼
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Is Animal Scientists a good career? ▼
How does Animal Scientists pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Animal Scientists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $103,300/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: Texas leads at $132,830/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.
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.