# Animal Breeders

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-breeders
- SOC code: 45-2021.00
- Career family: Farming, fishing and forestry
- Median annual pay: $51,130 (10th percentile $38,480, 90th percentile $90,550)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.0%
- Openings a year: 1,000
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 89 |
| Investigative (I) | 40 |
| Artistic (A) | 8 |
| Social (S) | 23 |
| Enterprising (E) | 17 |
| Conventional (C) | 43 |

## What you'd do

- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 79/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 71/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 71/100)
- Getting Information (importance 65/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 63/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 61/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 61/100)
- Processing Information (importance 53/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 53/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Science, Speaking, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Administration and Management, Biology, Mathematics, Administrative, Production and Processing, English Language, Mechanical, Economics and Accounting

## Also called

Animal Breeder, Animal Husbandman, Animal Husbandry Technician, Animal Technician, Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician), Artificial Inseminator, Aviculturist, Bee Breeder, Breeder, Canary Breeder

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Agricultural Production Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0103) (CIP 0103, 294 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus-1896) | Agricultural Production Operations | $66,359 | $83,779 | $23,246 |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Agricultural Production Operations | $62,437 | $71,868 | not reported |
| [Washington State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-state-university-3171) | Agricultural Production Operations | $59,003 | $69,708 | not reported |
| [Mississippi State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mississippi-state-university-1732) | Agricultural Production Operations | $54,023 | $69,160 | $20,375 |
| [Utah State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-state-university-3102) | Agricultural Production Operations | not reported | $61,639 | not reported |
| [University of California-Davis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-davis-2882) | Agricultural Production Operations | $47,880 | $58,236 | $10,265 |
| [Eastern Kentucky University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eastern-kentucky-university-866) | Agricultural Production Operations | not reported | $53,450 | $19,000 |
| [Clemson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clemson-university-572) | Agricultural Production Operations | $36,732 | $51,582 | $21,500 |

## Related careers

- [Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/farmworkers-farm-ranch-and-aquacultural-animals): $36,670 median pay
- [Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-caretakers): $35,360 median pay
- [Animal Trainers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-trainers): $39,990 median pay
- [Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers): $38,150 median pay
- [Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/farmers-ranchers-and-other-agricultural-managers): $89,900 median pay
- [Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/farmworkers-and-laborers-crop-nursery-and-greenhouse): $35,660 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.