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Breeder salary
Average breeder salary
$41,866
Average Breeder Salary
The average salary for breeders in 2025 is estimated at $41,866 per year. This figure is based on data collected from various states and occupations within the animal husbandry sector. Breeders' salaries can fluctuate based on experience, geographic location, and the specific species they work with.
Factors Influencing Breeder Salaries
- Experience: Entry-level breeders may start with lower salaries, while those with years of experience can earn significantly more.
- Location: States such as California and Texas often offer higher wages due to demand and cost of living.
- Specialization: Breeders focusing on rare or high-demand species tend to command higher salaries.
Understanding these factors can help individuals set realistic salary expectations and plan their career paths effectively. Additionally, exploring job opportunities in urban areas may reveal higher-paying positions, as cities with robust animal care industries often provide better compensation.
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Where can a Breeder earn more?
Average breeder salary by state
The average breeder salary in New Jersey, New York, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average breeder salary states are New Mexico, Utah, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for breeders
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $74,353 | $35.75 |
| 2 | New York | $73,896 | $35.53 |
| 3 | Delaware | $70,122 | $33.71 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $63,422 | $30.49 |
| 5 | Ohio | $63,214 | $30.39 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $69,099 | $33.22 |
| 7 | Michigan | $62,820 | $30.20 |
| 8 | Maryland | $69,533 | $33.43 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $64,373 | $30.95 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $58,044 | $27.91 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $57,935 | $27.85 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| 13 | Indiana | $55,303 | $26.59 |
| 14 | Iowa | $54,468 | $26.19 |
| 15 | Virginia | $61,151 | $29.40 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $56,983 | $27.40 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $57,702 | $27.74 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $54,190 | $26.05 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $59,375 | $28.55 |
| 20 | Nevada | $53,764 | $25.85 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $53,030 | $25.50 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $50,805 | $24.43 |
| 23 | Vermont | $52,270 | $25.13 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $49,824 | $23.95 |
| 25 | Missouri | $50,041 | $24.06 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $49,592 | $23.84 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $48,091 | $23.12 |
| 28 | Montana | $48,756 | $23.44 |
| 29 | Illinois | $47,578 | $22.87 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $46,478 | $22.35 |
| 31 | Georgia | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| 32 | Washington | $48,606 | $23.37 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $47,065 | $22.63 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $46,612 | $22.41 |
| 35 | Maine | $46,088 | $22.16 |
| 36 | Arizona | $45,417 | $21.84 |
| 37 | Idaho | $45,317 | $21.79 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $43,776 | $21.05 |
| 39 | Kansas | $40,059 | $19.26 |
| 40 | Colorado | $44,885 | $21.58 |
| 41 | Texas | $38,296 | $18.41 |
| 42 | Alaska | $41,213 | $19.81 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $37,547 | $18.05 |
| 44 | California | $38,778 | $18.64 |
| 45 | Alabama | $33,813 | $16.26 |
| 46 | Oregon | $37,994 | $18.27 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $35,019 | $16.84 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $33,599 | $16.15 |
| 49 | Utah | $34,140 | $16.41 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $29,147 | $14.01 |
| 51 | Florida | $30,660 | $14.74 |
Highest paying cities for breeders
The highest-paying cities for breeders are Chesterfield, MO, Great Falls, MT, and Evansville, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesterfield, MO | $50,785 | $24.42 |
| 2 | Great Falls, MT | $49,785 | $23.94 |
| 3 | Evansville, IN | $49,527 | $23.81 |
| 4 | Scottsdale, AZ | $45,605 | $21.93 |
| 5 | Aurora, CO | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| 6 | Davis, CA | $42,011 | $20.20 |
| 7 | Lubbock, TX | $39,195 | $18.84 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $38,292 | $18.41 |
| 9 | Wellington, FL | $29,772 | $14.31 |
Breeder salary details
A breeder's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a breeder's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $41,866 | $3,489 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Top companies hiring breeders now:
Which companies pay breeders the most?
Breeder salaries at Bayer and BASF are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average breeder salary at companies like Syngenta and Dell are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayer | $94,359 | $45.36 |
| 2 | BASF | $90,714 | $43.61 |
| 3 | Syngenta | $90,635 | $43.57 |
| 4 | Dell | $87,981 | $42.30 |
| 5 | Monsanto | $54,285 | $26.10 |
| 6 | United Genetics Seeds Co. | $51,706 | $24.86 |
| 7 | Advanta Partners | $51,639 | $24.83 |
| 8 | Nunhems U.S. | $51,107 | $24.57 |
| 9 | University of Colorado Denver | $46,255 | $22.24 |
| 10 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $45,937 | $22.09 |
| 11 | Harris Farms | $43,141 | $20.74 |
| 12 | Foster Farms | $36,161 | $17.39 |
| 13 | Kelly Services | $33,262 | $15.99 |
| 14 | Cobb-Vantress | $33,181 | $15.95 |
| 15 | Pilgrim's | $29,285 | $14.08 |
| 16 | Mountaire Farms | $26,398 | $12.69 |
| 17 | Rose Acre Farms | $25,478 | $12.25 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Breeder salary trends
The average breeder salary has risen by $5,997 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average breeder earned $35,869 annually, but today, they earn $41,866 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for breeders over the last decade.
Compare breeder salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average breeder salary over time
Compare breeder salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Breeder salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,900 | $20.13 | -5.3% |
| 2024 | $44,100 | $21.19 | +13.7% |
| 2023 | $38,100 | $18.30 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | $38,600 | $18.54 | +5.0% |
| 2021 | $36,600 | $17.62 | -10.3% |
Recently added breeder salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Breeding Core I | Aurora, CO | 06/29/2025 | $44,000 |
| JBS USA | Breeder Generalist | Arcadia, WI | 06/10/2025 | $52,864 |
| Pilgrim's | Breeder Generalist | Arcadia, WI | 06/04/2025 | $52,864 |
| Pilgrim's | Breeder Laborer-Days | Arcadia, WI | 05/07/2025 | $44,912 |
| Foster Farms | Egg Transfer Person-Glenwood Arkansas Breeders (DAY Shift) | Glenwood, AR | 04/19/2025 | $34,749 |
| University of Colorado | Breeding Core II | Aurora, CO | 04/04/2025 | $47,500 |
| Experienced | Breeder Office Support-Dodge Center, MN-Jennie-O | Nore, MN | 03/20/2025 | $33,663 |
| Oregon State University | Small Fruit Breeding Program-Raspberry & Blackberry | Corvallis, OR | 03/15/2025 | $30,679 |
| Syngenta Group | Breeder Flowers | Gilroy, CA | 03/06/2025 | $97,000 |
| Horizon AG | Rice Breeder | Rayne, LA | 02/25/2025 | $112,000 |
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