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Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,550 | 6.5 % | $33.10 | $68,840 | 2.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $17.07 | $21.93 | $29.21 | $38.99 | $55.19 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $35,510 | $45,620 | $60,760 | $81,110 | $114,800 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 830 | 0.03 | $26.47 | $55,050 |
| Support Activities for Animal Production | 540 | 1.77 | $30.41 | $63,250 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 290 | 0.05 | $45.71 | $95,080 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | 150 | 0.25 | $42.79 | $89,000 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 140 | 0.01 | $27.51 | $57,220 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Animal Production | 540 | 1.77 | $30.41 | $63,250 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | 150 | 0.25 | $42.79 | $89,000 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 290 | 0.05 | $45.71 | $95,080 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 830 | 0.03 | $26.47 | $55,050 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | 50 | 0.02 | $27.04 | $56,250 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 90 | (7) | $53.04 | $110,320 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 50 | (7) | $46.39 | $96,480 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 290 | 0.05 | $45.71 | $95,080 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | 50 | 0.01 | $44.53 | $92,610 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | 150 | 0.25 | $42.79 | $89,000 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 360 | 0.13 | 7.21 | $34.12 | $70,960 |
| Minnesota | 190 | 0.07 | 3.72 | $34.52 | $71,800 |
| Michigan | 160 | 0.04 | 2.03 | $29.63 | $61,640 |
| New York | 140 | 0.02 | 0.88 | $30.97 | $64,410 |
| Texas | 120 | 0.01 | 0.56 | $26.24 | $54,580 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 60 | 0.15 | 8.29 | $27.21 | $56,590 |
| Wisconsin | 360 | 0.13 | 7.21 | $34.12 | $70,960 |
| Nebraska | 90 | 0.09 | 5.09 | $48.06 | $99,960 |
| Minnesota | 190 | 0.07 | 3.72 | $34.52 | $71,800 |
| Iowa | 100 | 0.07 | 3.73 | $37.00 | $76,970 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 80 | 0.03 | 1.60 | $53.96 | $112,230 |
| Nebraska | 90 | 0.09 | 5.09 | $48.06 | $99,960 |
| Iowa | 100 | 0.07 | 3.73 | $37.00 | $76,970 |
| Ohio | 110 | 0.02 | 1.13 | $36.23 | $75,360 |
| Massachusetts | (8) | (8) | (8) | $35.87 | $74,600 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 130 | 0.07 | 3.78 | $32.36 | $67,300 |
| Ithaca, NY | 120 | 2.46 | 137.21 | $30.09 | $62,580 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 90 | 0.44 | 24.32 | $21.91 | $45,560 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 50 | 0.04 | 2.23 | (8) | (8) |
| Columbus, OH | 50 | 0.05 | 2.67 | $40.82 | $84,910 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 50 | 0.10 | 5.49 | $58.25 | $121,170 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 40 | 0.04 | 2.13 | $31.63 | $65,780 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 40 | 0.41 | 23.13 | $26.55 | $55,220 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.01 | 0.53 | $31.91 | $66,370 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | 120 | 2.46 | 137.21 | $30.09 | $62,580 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 90 | 0.44 | 24.32 | $21.91 | $45,560 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 40 | 0.41 | 23.13 | $26.55 | $55,220 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 50 | 0.10 | 5.49 | $58.25 | $121,170 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 130 | 0.07 | 3.78 | $32.36 | $67,300 |
| Columbus, OH | 50 | 0.05 | 2.67 | $40.82 | $84,910 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 50 | 0.04 | 2.23 | (8) | (8) |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 40 | 0.04 | 2.13 | $31.63 | $65,780 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.01 | 0.53 | $31.91 | $66,370 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 50 | 0.10 | 5.49 | $58.25 | $121,170 |
| Columbus, OH | 50 | 0.05 | 2.67 | $40.82 | $84,910 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $37.80 | $78,630 |
| Madison, WI | (8) | (8) | (8) | $36.65 | $76,230 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 130 | 0.07 | 3.78 | $32.36 | $67,300 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.01 | 0.53 | $31.91 | $66,370 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 40 | 0.04 | 2.13 | $31.63 | $65,780 |
| Ithaca, NY | 120 | 2.46 | 137.21 | $30.09 | $62,580 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 40 | 0.41 | 23.13 | $26.55 | $55,220 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 90 | 0.44 | 24.32 | $21.91 | $45,560 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.33 | 18.26 | $32.12 | $66,820 |
| Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.58 | 32.17 | (8) | (8) |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.36 | 20.13 | $24.94 | $51,880 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.25 | 13.83 | $32.53 | $67,670 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.58 | 32.17 | (8) | (8) |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.36 | 20.13 | $24.94 | $51,880 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.33 | 18.26 | $32.12 | $66,820 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.25 | 13.83 | $32.53 | $67,670 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.25 | 13.83 | $32.53 | $67,670 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.33 | 18.26 | $32.12 | $66,820 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.36 | 20.13 | $24.94 | $51,880 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018