Animal breeders select and breed animals to produce offspring with desired traits. The work is hands-on, rooted in biology and genetics, and you can enter with a high school education. Here is what the work involves, what skills matter most, and how to get started.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Animal breeders identify animals with the best traits and breed them to improve herds or flocks. You'll observe animals closely, keep detailed records on bloodlines and health, handle and move animals, make decisions about breeding pairs, and solve problems that arise. The work draws on knowledge of biology, customer service, and business management. You might work with livestock, poultry, fish, or other animals, depending on your focus. Much of the job happens outdoors or in farm facilities, and it requires physical activity and attention to detail.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Animal Breeders earn a median of $51,130 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 1,200 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most animal breeders start with a high school diploma and learn on the job. Some pursue vocational training or community college courses in animal science or agriculture to build knowledge faster. You'll develop skills in critical thinking, science, and active listening as you work alongside experienced breeders. Reading about genetics, animal health, and breeding practices helps you advance. Many breeders start as farm workers or assistants and move into breeding roles as they gain experience and prove their judgment.
Most paths into animal breeding combine on-the-job training with some formal agriculture or animal science study. If you are deciding between jumping in with a high school diploma or adding some coursework first, Pathly can map the animal breeder path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to find the pace that fits your situation.
Many animal breeders must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to hands-on work with animals and systems. You like solving practical problems, thinking critically about outcomes, and working in outdoor or farm settings where results are visible and measurable.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).