Animal Sciences
What Animal Sciences Graduates Do
Your career will likely begin with hands-on work as an agricultural technician. You’ll be on farms and in labs, collecting tissue samples, operating lab equipment like centrifuges and microscopes, and monitoring the health and feeding of livestock. It’s a role that blends fieldwork with precise, data-driven tasks.
With experience, you can advance to a first-line supervisor, managing a team of farmhands, or progress into agricultural management. As a farmer or ranch manager, your focus shifts to the big picture: planning breeding schedules, managing supply chains for feed and medicine, and using farm management software to track herd productivity. The ultimate goal for many is running their own operation, where earnings can be substantial.
While roles like animal scientist are growing fastest, the greatest number of opportunities are in management. AI tools will increasingly help with analysis and planning, like optimizing feed rations or predicting health issues, but the core work of managing land, operating equipment, and providing hands-on animal care remains a fundamentally human endeavor.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 4 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Animal Sciences. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Beekeeper
RAPIDS 886 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
|
Bison Herd Manager
RAPIDS 1136 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,330 – $77K | 2.5% |
|
Dairy Grazier
RAPIDS 2019HY |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Hybrid | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
|
Farmer, General (Agric)
RAPIDS 177 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Animal Sciences
9 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE |
55 50–58 |
$35,931/yr | 55.1x |
| 2 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH |
50 45–52 |
$39,743/yr | 26.4x |
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH |
48 43–50 |
$39,743/yr | 18.9x |
| 4 | Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL |
46 43–48 |
$24,833/yr | 47.4x |
| 5 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH |
38 33–40 |
$29,443/yr | 8.9x |
| 6 | Harcum College Bryn Mawr, PA |
36 31–38 |
$27,932/yr | 3.7x |
| 7 | Stautzenberger College-Maumee Maumee, OH |
33 29–35 |
$20,690/yr | 11.4x |
| 8 | Stautzenberger College-Brecksville Brecksville, OH |
33 29–35 |
$20,690/yr | 11.4x |
| 9 | Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford, IL |
33 29–35 |
$20,690/yr | 11.4x |
Highest Earning Animal Sciences Programs
Schools where Animal Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | $39,743/yr | 50 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | $39,743/yr | 48 |
| Northeast Community College | $35,931/yr | 55 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | $29,443/yr | 38 |
| Harcum College | $27,932/yr | 36 |
| Santa Fe College | $24,833/yr | 46 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Brecksville | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | $20,690/yr | 33 |
Best ROI for Animal Sciences
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Animal Sciences.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Community College | 55.1x | $35,931/yr | 55 |
| Santa Fe College | 47.4x | $24,833/yr | 46 |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | 26.4x | $39,743/yr | 50 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 18.9x | $39,743/yr | 48 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | 11.4x | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Brecksville | 11.4x | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | 11.4x | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 8.9x | $29,443/yr | 38 |
| Harcum College | 3.7x | $27,932/yr | 36 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Animal Sciences degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.