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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Animal Scientists

Part of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, in the Animal Systems pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 5: extensive preparationO*NET 19-1011.00

What the work is

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

On a typical day

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

What it pays

$132,830
Median pay per year, Texas (no San Antonio figure published)
New workers start near $44,490
Experienced workers reach $211,650
  1. $44k10th
  2. $76k25th
  3. $133kMedian
  4. $183k75th
  5. $212k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $44,490, 25th $76,110, Median $132,830, 75th $182,590, 90th $211,650

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

+6%

U.S. employment change

200

openings a year nationwide, from growth and people leaving

2,800

employed nationwide in 2024

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension4.9
  2. Judgment and Decision Making4.5
  3. Writing4.3
  4. Critical Thinking4.3
  5. Complex Problem Solving4.1
  6. Science4.0
  7. Speaking4.1
  8. Active Listening4.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Certificate4%
  2. Associate degree4%
  3. Bachelor's degree13%
  4. Master's degree22%
  5. Doctoral or professional57%

Job zone 5, extensive preparation: A graduate or professional degree, usually after a bachelor's.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Palo Alto
  1. Agriculture

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

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