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Livestock Production
Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS USA
Animal Scientists
Animal scientists study how feed, breeding, housing, and disease control affect animal health and the output of meat, milk, eggs, and other products. The work is a mix of lab research, data analysis, and direct advice to producers, so one week may include running experiments and the next may mean explaining new practices to farmers. The core tradeoff is simple: improve production and quality without pushing animals, budgets, or timelines too far.
Also known as Animal NutritionistLivestock ScientistAnimal Science ResearcherAnimal Breeding ScientistAnimal Research Scientist
Median Salary
$79,120
Mean $104,970
U.S. Workforce
~2K
0.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.8%
2.8K to 2.9K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Animal Scientists sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~2K workers, with a median annual pay of $79,120 and roughly 0.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 2.8 K in 2024 to 2.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Research Assistant / Animal Science Technician and can progress toward Principal Scientist / Research Program Lead. High-value skills usually include R, SAS & Statistical Analysis, Experimental Design & Research Methods, and Animal Nutrition & Feed Formulation Software, paired with soft skills such as Reading comprehension, Critical thinking, and Complex problem solving.
Core Responsibilities
- Test new feed, housing, or sanitation ideas to see whether they improve animal health and production.
- Work with farmers and producers to suggest better feeding, breeding, and disease-control practices.
- Study what different animals need to eat and compare the nutritional value of feed ingredients.
- Review breeding records and selection plans to help improve productivity and animal quality.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Test new feed, housing, or sanitation ideas to see whether they improve animal health and production.
02 Work with farmers and producers to suggest better feeding, breeding, and disease-control practices.
03 Study what different animals need to eat and compare the nutritional value of feed ingredients.
04 Review breeding records and selection plans to help improve productivity and animal quality.
05 Measure how management choices affect products like milk, eggs, and other animal-based goods.
06 Write reports and explain research results to scientists, producers, and the public.
Industries That Hire
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Animal Health and Pharmaceuticals
Zoetis, Merck Animal Health, Elanco
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Feed and Nutrition Manufacturing
Purina Animal Nutrition, ADM, Nutrena
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Universities and Public Research
Cornell University, Texas A&M University, University of California, Davis
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Biotechnology and Genetics
Genus plc, Neogen, Hendrix Genetics
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for a niche science role, with mean annual pay at $104,970 and a median of $79,120.
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The work is varied: you may study feed, breeding, disease control, and product quality in the same career.
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You can see research turn into real-world changes on farms, in labs, and in food production.
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The field rewards specialized expertise, so strong performance can lead to advanced research or leadership work.
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Projected growth is positive at 5.8%, which is better than flat or shrinking demand.
Challenges
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The job market is small, with only 2,470 current jobs and about 200 annual openings, so competition can be tight.
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A doctorate is common in this field: 43.48% of workers have one, and another 21.74% have a master's degree, so a bachelor's alone may not be enough for many research roles.
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Growth is modest at 5.8% through 2034, so this is not a high-expansion field.
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A lot of hiring depends on research grants, university budgets, and agribusiness spending, which can rise and fall with funding cycles.
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Projects often take a long time to show results, so progress can feel slow and the path to senior roles usually requires years of specialized experience.
Career Progression
Research Assistant / Animal Science Technician
0-2 years
$45K-$58K
Helps collect samples, maintain records, and support experiments while learning the research methods behind the work.
Animal Scientist
2-5 years
$68K-$92K
Designs studies, analyzes results, and advises producers on nutrition, breeding, and animal management; this is the level that matches the job title and includes the median pay range.
Senior Animal Scientist THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$93K-$121K
Leads larger research projects, coordinates with producers or lab teams, and turns findings into practical recommendations.
Principal Scientist / Research Program Lead
10+ years
$122K-$160K
Oversees major research programs, sets research priorities, and often manages teams, grants, or industry partnerships.
Education Paths
Doctoral degree
The most common preparation, held by 43.48% of workers in this role, especially for research jobs in universities, government labs, and large agribusiness companies.
Master's degree
A major route into applied research and industry work, held by 21.74% of workers in this role.
Bachelor's degree
An entry point for some applied and technician-style roles, held by 13.04% of workers in this role, though many research positions ask for graduate study.
Post-doctoral training
An advanced research path, held by 13.04% of workers in this role, often used by scientists aiming for specialized research leadership.
Key Skills
Technical
R, SAS & Statistical Analysis 81%
Experimental Design & Research Methods 80%
Animal Nutrition & Feed Formulation Software 79%
Genetics, Breeding Records & Selection Tools 79%
Laboratory Testing & Sample Analysis 78%
Microsoft Excel & Data Visualization 77%
LIMS, ELN & Research Data Management 76%
Soft Skills
Reading comprehensionCritical thinkingComplex problem solvingJudgment and decision makingWritingActive listening Job Outlook and Trends
+5.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 2.8K to 2.9 K over the next decade, representing 5.8% growth. Around 0.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.