Animal Scientist

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Work Tasks

• Work with farm animals, pets, and zoo animals to study their behavior
• Find ways to make animals healthier
• Study animals in order to find ways to make human food safer
• Teach in colleges, work for businesses, and for the government
• Work in labs, offices, classrooms, or outdoors
• Work with lab equipment, vitamins, grains, drugs, vaccines, and data about animals

Salary, Size & Growth

• $58,000 average per year ($28.00 per hour)
• A small occupation (2,400 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.3% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in agriculture
• Employers Prefer: A Ph.D. degree in animal science
• Skills/Courses: College courses include communications, economics, business, physical and life sciences, animal breeding, reproductive physiology, nutrition, and meats and muscle biology.