Career Opportunities

Overview

The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture reported in "Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment United States, 2015-2020" that the agricultural, food, environment and renewable natural resources sectors of the U.S. economy will generate an estimated 57,900 annual openings for individuals with baccalaureate or higher degrees in food, renewable energy, and environmental specialties between 2015 and 2020. The livestock industry and related fields are a major component of the United States economy and career opportunities are excellent for both men and women trained in animal science. Animal agriculture is a huge component in the American economy. It not only involves livestock production, but also encompasses marketing, public affairs, transportation, processing, research, companion animal management and a myriad of allied specialties. Animal science is a challenging field with many employment opportunities.

Animal Production & Management

Livestock producers are concerned with production of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine and poultry. These individuals and the people they employ are the cornerstone of the animal industry. They must be superb business people and be knowledgeable in meats, nutrition, genetics, behavior and physiology. In addition, they must know how to manage livestock and have marketing expertise. Salaries are expected to range from $25,000 - $65,000, and additional benefits including health and life insurance, retirement investments, housing, utilities, vehicle, and meat or milk allowance.

Representative careers in animal production systems management:

Animal Shelter Manager
Animal Waste Management
Breeding/Farrowing Manager
Broiler Manager
Broodmare Assistant Manager
Broodmare Manager
Cattle Feedlot Processor
Companion Animal Dept. Manager
Dairy Plant Manager
Dairy Young Stock Manager
Diagnostic Laboratory Manager
Dog Bakery Manager
Doggy Day Care Manager
Elephant Program Manager
Equine Boarding Stable Manager
Farm General Manager
Herdsperson/Artificial Insemination/Embryo Transfer
Individual Proprietor
Laboratory Animal Management
Livestock Ranch Manager
Mammal Conservation Manager
Manage Livestock Sales/Distribution/Marketing Systems
Manage Ranches/Farms/Feedlots
Manage Research Farms and Facilities
Manage Training/Boarding Facilities
Managers of Stud Farms/Livestock/Poultry Operations
Parlor Manager
Pet Store Assistant Manager
Poultry Hatchery Manager
Ranch Foreman
Ranch Manager
Safety Manager
Stallion Assistant Manager
Stallion Manager
Supply Chain Manager
Swine Section Manager
Thoroughbred Barn Foreman
Veterinary Practice Manager
Wean-Market Operations Director
Yearling Assistant Manager
Yearling Manager
Zoo Animal Care Manager
Zoo Assistant Manager

Food Processing

The food processing industry is a major employer of animal science graduates. This segment of the industry not only is concerned with marketing meat, milk and eggs in the usual sense. It is also involved in fabrication of new products, production of specialty food items and development of products that will appeal to a health-conscious public. This progressive component of animal agriculture hires animal science graduates as livestock buyers, quality control specialists, plant managers and sales personnel. Salaries are expected to range from $35,000 - $105,000, and additional benefits including health and life insurance, and retirement investments.

Representative careers in food processing:

Analytical Microbiology Testing
Consumer Safety Inspector
Corporate Chef
Culinary Support Specialist
Distribution/Warehouse Manager
Food Compliance Officer
Food Pathogen Detector
Instrumentation Specialist
Meat Process Operation Manager
Meats District Sales Manager
Meats Project Specialist
Meats Team Leader
Operations Manager
Packaging Supervisor
Plant Maintenance Supervisor
Plant Quality Manager
Plant Safety Supervisor
Processing Plant Supervisor
Product Development Manager
Product Development Specialist
Product Terminal Manager
Production Supervisor
Quality Assurance Assistant Director
Quality Assurance Chemist
Quality Assurance Director
Quality Assurance Inspector
Quality Assurance Supervisor
Raw Material Coordinator
Research & Design Chemist
Safety/Processing Manager
Sensory Testing Specialist
Tech. Meat Application Specialist
Technical Service Manager
Value-Added Specialist

Animal Feed / Environmental / Health Industries

Pharmaceutical organizations, livestock product companies and feed companies are constantly seeking bright, energetic young people to enter sales/marketing forces and consulting/technical services dealing with both commercial livestock production and companion animals. Animal science students may also go into animal or human medicine and be involved in health care. Salaries are expected to range from $25,000 - $150,000, and additional benefits may include health and life insurance, retirement investments, vehicle and communication. Self-employment is possible.

Representative careers in animal feed/health/environment industries:

Consultants - Nutritionists, Geneticists, Biotechnologist, Housing, Environment, Management
Quality Control/Processing/Packing of Foods
Milk/Feed/Food Testing Services
Dairy, Meat and Seafood Technical Assistants
Livestock Equipment Representative
Assistant Product Marketing Manager
Beef Improvement Sales Representative
Beef Nutrition Sales Representative
Breed Association Marketing & Sales Representative
Cattle Buyer
Cattle Marketing Specialist
Commodity Merchant
Director of Marketing
Dairy Technical Sales Manager
Equine Feed Sales Representative
Equine Insurance Agent
Equine Products Sales Representative
Large Animal Pharm. Sales Representative
Meats Marketing Manager
Pet Care Brand Manager
Pet Insurance Agent
Poultry Equipment Sales Manager
Pharm. Regional Sales Representative
Sales Account Representative
Show Supply Sales Associate
Swine Equipment Sales Representative
Pet Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Zoo Development Director
Veterinary Zoologist
Clinical Pharmacologist
Dental Hygiene
Dentist
Laboratory Animal Medicine
Medical Dietetics
Medical Doctor
Optometrist
Pharmacist
Physical Therapist
Physicians Associate
Respiratory Therapy
Veterinary Anesthesiologist
Veterinary Behaviorist
Veterinary Dermatologist
Veterinary Emergency Care
Veterinary Epidemiologist
Veterinary Geneticist
Veterinary Internal Medicine
Veterinary Medical Officer
Veterinary Microbiologist
Veterinary Nutritionist
Veterinary Ophthalmologist
Veterinary Pathologist
Veterinary Practitioner
Veterinary Public Health Inspector
Veterinary Radiologist
Veterinary Technologist
Veterinary Toxicologist

Communications and Service Organizations

Breed associations, livestock commodity groups, artificial insemination services and government agencies employ animal science students as representatives of their organizations. Likewise, livestock publications, newspapers, television stations, advertising agencies and public relations firms need talented people who can communicated about agriculture. Communication skills are a necessity in all fields, and animal science students can turn these skills into satisfying careers. Other service organizations such as banks, insurance companies, real estate agencies and power companies employ agricultural representatives in positions that require a background in animal agriculture. Salaries are expected to range from $25,000 – $80,000, and additional benefits including health and life insurance, and retirement investments.

Representative careers in communication and service organizations:

Assoc. Public Relations Manager
Assoc. Outreach Programs Director
Breed Assoc. Advertising Manager
Breed Assoc. Advertising Sales
Breed Assoc. Accounts Manager
Breed Assoc. Events Director
Breed Assoc. Executive Director
Breed Assoc. Industry Relations
Breed Assoc. Foundation Director
Breed Assoc. Operations Director
Breed Assoc. Web Editor
Breed Magazine Assistant Editor
Breed Magazine Consultant
Breed Magazine Designer
Breed Magazine Editor
Breed Magazine Production Manager
Breed Magazine Writer
Director, Membership Services
Equine Photographer
Livestock Auctioneer
Livestock Photographer
Livestock Web Designer
Pet Photographer
Poultry Association Media Manager
Zoo Public Relations Manager
Science Writer/Illustrator
Livestock Management Services
Humane Animal Care Services
Livestock Investment Firms
Product Application - Sales and Services
Government Regulatory Agencies
Agriculture Journalist

Research

Research designed to improve efficiency and quality of domestic animals and to solve livestock-related problems is conducted by a number of agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), universities and private companies. Therefore, individuals with bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in animal science have an opportunity for rewarding careers in research. With recent advances in computer science and biotechnology, persons trained in these areas will become even more competitive. Salaries are expected to range from $35,000 - $145,000, and additional benefits including health and life insurance, and retirement investments.

Representative careers in research:

Administrative/Industry/Leadership Positions
Animal Care Technician
Animal Modeling Lab Head
Animal Research Associate
Animal Research Attendant
Animal Research Operations Manager
Animal Research Technician
Animal Surgery Technician
Biotechnology or Pharmaceutical industry
Cell Culture Specialist
College/University Teaching and Research
Commercial Research/Product Development
Embryologist or in vitro fertilization (IVF) specialist
Equine Orthopedic Researcher
Food Quality Control/Product Development Scientist
Genetic Manipulation Specialist
Governmental Research (USDA and NIH)
Lab Animal Technician
Microbiologist
Molecular Biotechnologist
Nutritional R&D Associate
Poultry Center Research Asst.
Practicing Veterinarian/Research Veterinarian
Private Development of Animal Products/Services
Reproductive Biologist
Research Geneticist
Research Scientist, Research Associate, Senior Scientist
Risk Assessment Scientist
USDA Research Centers Faculty

Education and Public Service

A student majoring in animal science may qualify to teach vocational agriculture in high school under a program of study cooperatively developed by the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education. Animal science majors may also find employment with Extension working as an educator or specialist. People with advanced degrees in animal science are needed to teach in colleges and universities. All of these teaching fields will require animal science graduates to meet the needs of the future. Salaries are expected to range from $28,000 - $120,000, and additional benefits including health and life insurance, and retirement investments.