Occupation overview

Animal Breeders Salary in the United States

The median annual wage for animal breeders is $51,130, or $24.58 per hour. About 1,330 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $68,980 in Ohio to $40,220 in Nebraska.

Median annual
$51,130
Median hourly
$24.58
Entry level (P10)
$38,480
Top 10% (P90)
$90,550
Employment
1,330
States covered
9

Wage distribution nationwide

Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.

10th percentile90th percentile
$38,480
$44,320
$51,130
$62,080
$38,480$51,130$90,550
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $51,130.

Salary by state

All 9 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmployment Location quotient
1Ohio$68,980$33.16801.77
2California$59,280$28.504102.60
3Alabama$53,200$25.58603.17
4Wisconsin$51,130$24.58401.63
5Texas$48,410$23.27600.46
6New York$48,350$23.251401.72
7Minnesota$47,900$23.031706.65
8South Dakota$44,850$21.564010.72
9Nebraska$40,220$19.34404.23

Related occupations

Same job family, ranked by national employment.

Frequently asked questions

How much do animal breeders make?

The median annual wage for animal breeders in the United States is $51,130, or $24.58 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $38,480, and the top 10% earn $90,550.

How many animal breeders are employed in the U.S.?

About 1,330 people work as animal breeders nationwide.

Which state pays animal breeders the most?

Ohio pays the most at a median of $68,980, followed by California ($59,280) and Alabama ($53,200).

Which state pays animal breeders the least?

Nebraska has the lowest median at $40,220.

Where are animal breeders jobs most concentrated?

The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is South Dakota at 10.72×.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Retrieved 2026-10-26. bls.gov/oes