Animal Breeder Salary
Animal Breeders earn a median $51,130 a year nationally. Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
What animal breeders do
Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.0% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 1,000
- Self-employed
- 4%
Employment of animal breeders is projected to grow 3.0% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Animal Breeder take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,956
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,170
- Medicare (1.45%)$741
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,263
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,480 | $18.50 | $33,099 |
| 25th percentile | $44,320 | $21.31 | $37,791 |
| Median (50th) | $51,130 | $24.58 | $43,263 |
| 75th percentile | $62,080 | $29.85 | $52,061 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,550 | $43.53 | $72,532 |
Animal Breeder salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $68,980 | −4.1% | $56,243 | $43,110 – $140,850 | 80 |
| California | $59,280 | +1.8% | $47,435 | $47,400 – $94,450 | 410 |
| Alabama | $53,200 | +82.6% | $42,531 | $25,190 – $64,600 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $51,130 | +11.5% | $41,794 | $42,900 – $59,170 | 40 |
| Texas | $48,410 | +0.4% | $41,077 | $32,970 – $73,260 | 60 |
| New York | $48,350 | −4.1% | $39,015 | $41,360 – $73,660 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $47,900 | −1.6% | $38,924 | $38,480 – $56,310 | 170 |
| South Dakota | $44,850 | — | $38,217 | $38,480 – $48,750 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $40,220 | — | $33,546 | $39,530 – $43,210 | 40 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Inspector | $49,940 | Bachelor's degree | +2.3% |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 | No formal educational credential | +8.6% |
| Agricultural Workers, All Other | $39,850 | No formal educational credential | +3.8% |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $36,670 | No formal educational credential | -3.2% |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $35,730 | No formal educational credential | -3.4% |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,660 | No formal educational credential | -2.4% |
| Logging Workers, All Other | $50,840 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.6% |
| Faller | $52,100 | High school diploma or equivalent | -9.9% |
| Logging Equipment Operator | $49,740 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.8% |
| Log Grader and Scaler | $46,330 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal breeder make?
The national median salary for animal breeders is $51,130 a year ($24.58 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,480 and the top 10% earn over $90,550. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays animal breeders the most?
Ohio has the highest median pay at $68,980.
How many animal breeders are there in the U.S.?
About 1,330 people work as animal breeders nationwide.