Career Opportunities by Species
The Department of Animal Sciences prepares students for a broad spectrum of career opportunities across the animal industries. Our program emphasizes hands-on experience, industry engagement and personalized academic and career advising, helping students build strong foundations for their futures. Whether you're interested in beef, dairy, equine, poultry, small ruminants or swine, each section explores potential professions within that species area, highlighting roles with varying levels of educational preparation. In fact, 96% of our May 2024 graduates secured employment or were enrolled in continuing education after graduation.
Educational Pathways Include:
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Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Typically a four-year degree
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Graduate School – Specializations may include nutrition, reproduction, genetics, meats, management and animal well-being
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Master of Science (M.S.) – Typically two years beyond a B.S.
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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Typically two to four years beyond an M.S.
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Veterinary Technician (VT) – Two- or four-year programs
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Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – Typically four years beyond a B.S.
Career opportunities
Animal Health and Production
- Veterinarian, veterinary technician
- Cattle ranch hand or technician
- Cow-calf operator
- Stocker or backgrounder
- Feedlot manager or technician
- Farm manager or supervisor
- Artificial insemination/embryo transfer technician
- Animal welfare auditor
Research
- Geneticist
- Animal scientist
- Meat scientist
- Nutritionist
Business and Technical Services
- Equipment sales and service technician
- Feed sales representative
- Animal health product sales specialist
- Market analyst
- Auctioneer or sale barn manager
- Communications specialist
Processing, Quality and Food Safety
- Beef plant operator or packing plant worker
- Meat cutter
- Meat inspector
- Quality assurance technician
- Quality grader
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator
Education and Policy
- Extension specialist
- Extension educator
- High school agriculture teacher
- Waste and nutrient management specialist
- Board of Animal Health
- Animal Associations
Career Example: Beef Reproductive Technician - $50,000
Animal Health and Production
- Veterinarian, veterinary technician
- Herdsperson or stockperson
- Milker or milking technician
- Calf manager
- Farm manager or supervisor
- Artificial insemination technician
- Animal welfare auditor
Research
- Dairy Food Products Specialist
- Geneticist
- Animal scientist
- Nutritionist
Business and Technical Services
- Equipment sales and service technician
- Feed sales representative
- Cooperative manager
- Commodity tracker or market analyst
- Agribusiness consultant
- Marketing or communications specialist
Processing, Quality and Food Safety
- Plant operator
- Cheesemaker or yogurt maker
- Quality assurance technician
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator
- Product development specialist
Education and Policy
- Extension specialist
- Extension educator
- High school agriculture teacher
- Waste and nutrient management specialist
- Board of Animal Health
- Animal Associations
Career Example: Dairy Services Consultant - $60,000
Animal Health
- Veterinarian, veterinary technician, diagnostician
- Massage therapist, chiropractor, dental technician, rehabilitation
- Reproduction Specialist
Training, Instruction and Therapeutic
- Horse trainer, show rider, exercise rider, jockey
- Riding instructor, therapeutic riding instructor
- Stable hand
- Equine studies educator, equine assisted therapy specialist
Management, Nutrition, Sales and Support
- Farrier
- Barn manager
- Feed and Supplement Sales
- Transportation specialist
- Equipment sales
Research
- Geneticist
- Behaviorist
- Nutritionist
- Animal scientist
Business, Media and Marketing
- Business manager
- Show or event manager
- Photographer or videographer
- Journalist or writer
- Board of Animal Health
- Animal Associations
- Insurance agent
Career Example: Assistant Barn Manager - $45,000
Animal Health and Production
- Veterinarian, veterinary technician
- Farm worker or technician
- Farm manager or flock supervisor
- Hatchery technician
- Breeder technician
- Animal welfare auditor
- Feed manufacturing and delivery
Research
- Geneticist
- Animal scientist
- Meat scientist
- Nutritionist
Business and Technical Services
- Supply chain manager
- Feed sales representative
- Genetic sales representative
- Equipment or housing system sales
Processing, Quality and Food Safety
- Poultry processor
- Quality assurance technician
- Packaging and labeling specialist
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator
Education and Policy
- Extension specialist
- Extension educator
- High school agriculture teacher
- Industry communications specialist
- Waste and nutrient management specialist
- Board of Animal Health
- Animal Associations
Career Example: Assistant Broiler/Hatchery Manager - $60,000
Animal Health and Production
- Veterinarian, veterinary technician
- Livestock technician
- Farm or ranch manager
- Artificial insemination/embryo transfer technician
- Groomer or shearer
- Herdsperson or stockperson
- Fiber production specialist
- Animal welfare auditor
Research
- Geneticist
- Meat scientist
- Nutritionist
- Animal scientist
Business and Technical Services
- Agribusiness manager
- Agritourism operator
- Livestock marketing agent or auctioneer
- Feed sales representative
- Animal health sales representative
Processing, Quality and Food Safety
- Meat processor
- Dairy processor
- Wool classer or grader
- Tannery worker
Education and Policy
- Extension specialist
- Extension educator
- High school agriculture teacher
- Waste and nutrient management specialist
- Board of Animal Health
- Animal Associations
Career Example: Ruminant Embryologist - $45,000
Animal Health and Production
- Veterinarian, veterinary technician
- Health and biosecurity specialist
- Herdsperson or stockperson
- Barn manager or supervisor
- Production technician
- Artificial insemination technician
- Boar stud technician
- Piglet care specialist
- Animal welfare auditor
- Feed manufacturing and delivery
- Transportation
Research
- Animal behavior and welfare scientist
- Geneticist
- Meat scientist
- Nutritionist
- Reproductive physiologist
- Management specialist
- Animal scientist
Business and Technical Services
- Production consultant
- Feed sales representative
- Genetic sales representative
- Equipment or housing system sales
- Reproduction consultant
- Accountant
- Logistics coordinator
- Marketing manager
- Procurement specialist
- Manure management and application
Processing, Quality and Food Safety
- Pork processor
- Quality assurance technician
- Regulatory affairs specialist
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator
- Product development
Education and Policy
- Extension specialist
- Extension educator
- High school agriculture teacher
- Industry communications specialist
- Sustainability coordinator
- Public policy analyst
- Board of Animal Health
- Animal Associations
Career Example: Swine Production Technician - $55,000
Is your career in animal sciences missing from this list?
Help us keep our resources up to date by contacting Katy Kinker to share your career path.
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