How long does it take to become an animal breeder?

Typically no schooling after high school, then a few weeks of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do animal breeders make?

The US median is $51,130 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become an animal breeder?

No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.

Where can you train to become an animal breeder?

87 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

🎓 My University View

Home › Careers › Animal breeders

How to become an animal breeder

Farming & forestry · SOC 45-2021

$51,130US median pay, 2025

+3%Projected growth, 2025–35

1,000Openings per year

On the jobUsual way in

How you get in

Most people are hired and trained on the job, so school is optional. A program can still help you stand out.

High school diploma or equivalent (a program is optional for this job)
Short-term on-the-job training
Work as an animal breeder

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production	CIP 01.0302	56
Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management	CIP 01.0307	40
Apiculture	CIP 01.0310	0

See the 87 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become an animal breeder?: Typically no schooling after high school, then a few weeks of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do animal breeders make?: The US median is $51,130 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become an animal breeder?: No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.
Where can you train to become an animal breeder?: 87 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

Related careers in Farming & forestry

Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals · Agricultural equipment operators · First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers · Logging equipment operators · Fishing and hunting workers · Agricultural inspectors · Forest and conservation workers