Life, Physical & Social Science
Animal Scientists
Also called: Animal Nutrition Consultant, Animal Nutritionist, Animal Scientist, Beef Cattle Nutritionist
US median pay
$68,940
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.8%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
200
3,400 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
- Conduct research concerning animal nutrition, breeding, or management to improve products or processes.
- Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
- Research and control animal selection and breeding practices to increase production efficiency and improve animal quality.
- Determine genetic composition of animal populations and heritability of traits, using principles of genetics.
- Crossbreed animals with existing strains or cross strains to obtain new combinations of desirable characteristics.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.8/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Biology4.6/5
- Mathematics4.1/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Chemistry4.0/5
- Food Production3.8/5
- Education and Training3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Doctoral degree43%
- Master's degree22%
- Post-doctoral training13%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.