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What Does it Take to Be an Animal Scientist?

Job Description: Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.

Life As an Animal Scientist: What Do They Do?

  • Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
  • Research and control animal selection and breeding practices to increase production efficiency and improve animal quality.
  • Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
  • Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
  • Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public.
  • Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.

What Every Animal Scientist Should Know

When polled, Animal Scientists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Beef Cattle Specialist
  • Swine Specialist
  • Nutrition Partner
  • Dairy Bacteriologist
  • Poultry Husbandman

Job Opportunities for Animal Scientists

In the United States, there were 6,100 jobs for Animal Scientist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 300 new jobs for Animal Scientist by 2026. There will be an estimated 700 positions for Animal Scientist per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Animal Scientist are Washington, Nebraska, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Oregon, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Animal Scientist Average Salary

Animal Scientists make between $36,270 and $113,430 a year.

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Animal Scientists who work in Maryland, Nebraska, or Ohio, make the highest salaries.

How much do Animal Scientists make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
California $56,840
Colorado $61,010
Georgia $62,210
Illinois $54,610
Indiana $67,510
Iowa $74,830
Kansas $81,310
Maryland $128,700
Michigan $71,230
Minnesota $69,860
Missouri $81,780
Nebraska $93,140
New York $62,140
North Carolina $61,030
Ohio $76,240
Oklahoma $40,060
Pennsylvania $52,420
South Dakota $59,960
Texas $52,360
Wisconsin $70,030

What Tools & Technology do Animal Scientists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Animal Scientists may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Database software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • SAS
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • Tableau
  • Palm OS
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis software

Becoming an Animal Scientist

Learn what Animal Scientist education requirements there are.

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being an Animal Scientist may also be interested in:

Those who work as an Animal Scientist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Billy Hathorn via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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