How much does an Animal Scientist make?
An Animal Scientist earns a median annual salary of $68,940 in the United States, which works out to roughly $33.14 per hour for full-time work. Most Animal Scientists earn between $44,350 at the entry level and $166,000 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $49,770 and $103,300 a year.
That is $7,550 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Animal Scientist salary range by percentile
Half of all Animal Scientists earn between $49,770 and $103,300 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,350 | $21.32 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,770 | $23.93 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $68,940 | $33.14 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $103,300 | $49.66 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,000 | $79.81 |
Highest-paying states for Animal Scientist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Texas leads the country for Animal Scientist pay at $132,830 a year, followed by Minnesota ($88,640) and Wisconsin ($84,310). At the other end, Illinois posts the lowest median at $47,930 — a gap of $84,900 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $132,830 | $63.86 | +93% |
| 2 | Minnesota | $88,640 | $42.62 | +29% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $84,310 | $40.53 | +22% |
| 4 | Washington | $83,160 | $39.98 | +21% |
| 5 | Kansas | $80,090 | $38.50 | +16% |
Animal Scientist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 13 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 3,000 people work as Animal Scientists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $88,350 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Other science roles with similar pay.