The average salary for an animal breeder in the United States is around $51,130 per year.
Avg Salary
Animal breeders earn an average yearly salary of $51,130.
Wages typically start from $38,480 and go up to $90,550.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Animal breeder earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level animal breeder earnings begin at:
$43.53 per hour
$90,550 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level animal breeder earnings begin at:
$29.85 per hour
$62,080 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level animal breeder earnings begin at:
$24.58 per hour
$51,130 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level animal breeder earnings begin at:
$21.31 per hour
$44,320 per year
10th percentile
Starting level animal breeder earnings begin at:
$18.50 per hour
$38,480 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Animal breeder salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $68,980 |
| California | $59,280 |
| Washington | $57,480 |
| Missouri | $54,400 |
| Tennessee | $53,850 |
| Alabama | $53,200 |
| Wisconsin | $51,130 |
| Texas | $48,410 |
| New York | $48,350 |
| Minnesota | $47,900 |
| South Dakota | $44,850 |
| Virginia | $43,910 |
| Florida | $41,110 |
| Nebraska | $40,220 |
| New Jersey | $37,980 |
| Kentucky | $36,520 |
| Iowa | $30,430 |
| Michigan | $29,680 |
| North Carolina | $29,270 |
How do animal breeder salaries compare to similar careers?
Animal breeders earn 14% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than aquacultural managers but more than exterminators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Aquacultural manager salary | $90K |
| Animal scientist salary | $69K |
| Zoologist salary | $77K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $74K |
| Animal breeder salary | $51K |
| Veterinary technologist salary | $47K |
| Animal control worker salary | $46K |
| Animal trainer salary | $40K |
| Exterminator salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)