Animal Breeders
Animal Breeders (SOC 45-2021) earn a median $51,130 a year ($24.58 an hour) in the United States, with 1,330 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Ohio.
What animal breeders do
Animal breeders choose and breed animals based on their ancestry, traits, and the offspring they produce. They choose the animals to be bred, and the semen specimens to be used, based on their knowledge of the animals, genealogies, traits, and the characteristics wanted in the offspring. The work may call for knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment, and may involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree. Breeders watch animals in heat to detect the approach of estrus and exercise them to induce or hasten it if necessary. Daily care includes feeding and watering the animals, cleaning and disinfecting pens, cages, yards, and hutches, and examining animals for symptoms of illness or injury. They treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians for serious ones. They buy and stock feed and medicines, build hutches, pens, and fenced yards, and record weights, growth patterns, and diets. Animal scientists whose main function is research are excluded, as are animal caretakers who only occasionally breed animals.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Animal Breeder, Animal Husbandman, Animal Husbandry Technician, Animal Technician, Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.50 | $21.31 | $24.58 | $29.85 | $43.53 | $27.41 | 1,330 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $44,320 | $51,130 | $62,080 | $90,550 | $57,010 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where animal breeders earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $20.73 | $23.70 | $33.16 | $53.44 | $67.72 | $39.68 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $43,110 | $49,300 | $68,980 | $111,150 | $140,850 | $82,540 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.79 | $26.50 | $28.50 | $35.25 | $45.41 | $32.00 | 410 | 0.02 | 2.60 |
| Annual | $47,400 | $55,120 | $59,280 | $73,320 | $94,450 | $66,550 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $12.11 | $12.91 | $25.58 | $30.74 | $31.06 | $22.10 | 60 | 0.03 | 3.17 |
| Annual | $25,190 | $26,860 | $53,200 | $63,930 | $64,600 | $45,970 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $20.62 | $20.62 | $24.58 | $26.15 | $28.45 | $23.99 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $42,900 | $42,900 | $51,130 | $54,390 | $59,170 | $49,890 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.85 | $21.34 | $23.27 | $29.86 | $35.22 | $25.18 | 60 | 0.00 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $32,970 | $44,380 | $48,410 | $62,100 | $73,260 | $52,370 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.79 | $26.50 | $28.50 | $35.25 | $45.41 | $32.00 | 410 | 0.02 | 2.60 |
| Annual | $47,400 | $55,120 | $59,280 | $73,320 | $94,450 | $66,550 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $18.50 | $22.90 | $23.03 | $23.72 | $27.07 | $23.66 | 170 | 0.06 | 6.65 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $47,630 | $47,900 | $49,340 | $56,310 | $49,200 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $19.88 | $22.37 | $23.25 | $28.23 | $35.41 | $25.20 | 140 | 0.02 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $41,360 | $46,530 | $48,350 | $58,720 | $73,660 | $52,410 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $20.73 | $23.70 | $33.16 | $53.44 | $67.72 | $39.68 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $43,110 | $49,300 | $68,980 | $111,150 | $140,850 | $82,540 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $12.11 | $12.91 | $25.58 | $30.74 | $31.06 | $22.10 | 60 | 0.03 | 3.17 |
| Annual | $25,190 | $26,860 | $53,200 | $63,930 | $64,600 | $45,970 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $27.84 | $27.84 | $33.21 | $45.41 | $45.41 | $35.62 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $57,900 | $57,900 | $69,070 | $94,450 | $94,460 | $74,080 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.06 | $19.01 | $28.09 | $35.18 | $35.18 | $28.17 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $37,560 | $39,530 | $58,440 | $73,180 | $73,180 | $58,580 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.81 | $22.81 | $23.72 | $28.56 | $36.43 | $27.59 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $47,450 | $47,450 | $49,350 | $59,410 | $75,780 | $57,390 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.81 | $22.81 | $23.72 | $28.56 | $36.43 | $27.59 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $47,450 | $47,450 | $49,350 | $59,410 | $75,780 | $57,390 | ||||
Top industries employing animal breeders
Support Activities for Animal Production employ 56.4% of animal breeders nationally (750 jobs) at a median $47,900 a year ($23.03 an hour), followed by Animal Slaughtering and Processing (7.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Animal Production NAICS 115200 | 750 | 56.4% | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing NAICS 311600 | 100 | 7.5% | $63,930 | $30.74 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,330). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $40,090 for animal breeders in May 2021 and $51,130 in May 2025, with employment of 950 and 1,330.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $40,090 | $19.28 | 950 |
| May 2022 | $45,320 | $21.79 | 1,270 |
| May 2023 | $47,540 | $22.86 | 1,360 |
| May 2024 | $52,000 | $25.00 | 1,730 |
| May 2025 | $51,130 | $24.58 | 1,330 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
9 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio profile | $33.16 | $68,980 | $43,110 | $140,850 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.77 |
| 2 | California profile | $28.50 | $59,280 | $47,400 | $94,450 | 410 | 0.02 | 2.60 |
| 3 | Alabama profile | $25.58 | $53,200 | $25,190 | $64,600 | 60 | 0.03 | 3.17 |
| 4 | Wisconsin profile | $24.58 | $51,130 | $42,900 | $59,170 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.63 |
| 5 | Texas profile | $23.27 | $48,410 | $32,970 | $73,260 | 60 | 0.00 | 0.46 |
| 6 | New York profile | $23.25 | $48,350 | $41,360 | $73,660 | 140 | 0.02 | 1.72 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $23.03 | $47,900 | $38,480 | $56,310 | 170 | 0.06 | 6.65 |
| 8 | South Dakota profile | $21.56 | $44,850 | $38,480 | $48,750 | 40 | 0.09 | 10.72 |
| 9 | Nebraska profile | $19.34 | $40,220 | $39,530 | $43,210 | 40 | 0.04 | 4.23 |
Part of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 45-2021 Animal Breeders.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 45-2021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 45-2021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.