Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Animal Breeders
Also called: Animal Technician, Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician), Artificial Inseminator, Breeder
US median pay
$51,130
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
1,000
6,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
- 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.
- Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
- 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.
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.
- Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Operations Monitoring2.9/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.6/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.6/5
- Operation and Control2.6/5
- Coordination2.5/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- Sales and Marketing3.9/5
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Biology3.3/5
- Mathematics3.2/5
- Administrative3.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma86%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.