Animal Scientist salary in the U.S.
Animal Scientists in the U.S. earn a median of $68,940 a year ($33.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,000 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $88,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for animal scientists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| 25th percentile | $49,770 | $23.93 |
| Median | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| 75th percentile | $103,300 | $49.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,000 | $79.81 |
| Average (mean) | $88,350 | $42.48 |
Half of animal scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,745 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,872.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,651.54 |
| Weekly | $1,325.77 |
| Hourly | $33.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Animal Scientist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $132,830 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $88,640 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $84,310 | 280 |
| Washington | $83,160 | 40 |
| Kansas | $80,090 | n/a |
| Maryland | $77,750 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,660 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $77,300 | 90 |
| Iowa | $75,290 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $72,100 | 40 |
| Michigan | $60,010 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $55,300 | 210 |
| Illinois | $47,930 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for animal scientists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $240,370 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,540 | n/a |
| Madison, WI | $84,310 | 220 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,810 | 160 |
| Lincoln, NE | $79,410 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,880 | 60 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $76,530 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $73,740 | 40 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,740 | 40 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $63,300 | n/a |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $55,450 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most animal scientists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 220 | $84,310 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 160 | $82,810 |
| Lincoln, NE | 100 | $79,410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 60 | $77,880 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 40 | $63,740 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 40 | $240,370 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 40 | $76,530 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 40 | $73,740 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 30 | $55,450 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal scientist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for animal scientists in the U.S. is $68,940 a year, or $33.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid animal scientists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of animal scientists in the U.S. earn at least $166,000 a year. The top 25% earn $103,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for animal scientists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,350 a year, and a quarter of animal scientists earn $49,770 or less.
How many animal scientists work in the U.S.?
About 3,100 animal scientists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.