Animal Breeders Salary
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations · 1.3K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$51,130
Median hourly
$25
Average annual
$57,010
Typical range
$38,480–$90,550
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Animal Breeders is $51,130 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $25 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use.
Most earn between $38,480 and $90,550 a year. There are roughly 1.3K people employed as animal breeders in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Animal Breeders.
- Hourly
- $24.58
- Daily
- $197
- Weekly
- $983
- Bi-weekly
- $1,967
- Monthly
- $4,261
- Annual
- $51,130
$51,130 a year is around the 50th percentile for Animal Breederss. The median is $51,130.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Ohio$68,980
- 2California$59,280
- 3Alabama$53,200
- 4Wisconsin$51,130
- 5Texas$48,410
- 6New York$48,350
- 7Minnesota$47,900
- 8South Dakota$44,850
- 9Nebraska$40,220
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$69,070
- 2Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$58,440
- 3New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$49,350
Related job titles
Employers advertise Animal Breeders roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$36,670
- Animal Caretakers$35,360
- Animal Trainers$39,990
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,150
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$89,900
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Animal Control Workers$45,660
- Agricultural Technicians$49,630
What a Animal Breeders does
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
- 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.
- 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.
- Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.
- Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Animal Breeders make?
- The median annual wage for Animal Breeders is $51,130 ($25 per hour). Pay ranges from about $38,480 at the 10th percentile to $90,550 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Animal Breeders?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $57,010, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Animal Breederss the most?
- Ohio has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $68,980.
- Is Animal Breeders a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 1.3K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Animal Breeders do?
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.; 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..