Animal Scientists vs Biological Technicians: $69K vs $58K Median Pay

Animal Scientists vs Biological Technicians: what changes?

Consider Animal Scientists if you want to conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals. Consider Biological Technicians if you would rather assist biological and medical scientists. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Animal Scientists and Biological Technicians. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Animal Scientists

National median pay (2025): $68,940
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (3,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Animal Scientists brief

Biological Technicians

National median pay (2025): $57,510
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 9,400

Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Biological Technicians brief

How the national numbers differ

Biological Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Biological Technicians is at 9,400 annual openings, compared with 200 annual openings for Animal Scientists.

Animal Scientists has the edge on median pay

Animal Scientists is at $68,940, compared with $57,510 for Biological Technicians.

Typical preparation differs.

Animal Scientists: Bachelor's degree Biological Technicians: Bachelor's degree Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Biological Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Biological Technicians is at 7.4% projected growth, compared with 5.8% projected growth for Animal Scientists.

39.5/ 100

Animal Scientists

57.4/ 100

Biological Technicians

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Animal Scientists vs Biological Technicians

Dimension	Animal Scientists	Biological Technicians
Median pay (2025)	$68,940	$57,510
Pay percentile	60.5 percentile	42.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.8%	7.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	200	9,400
2025 employment	3,400	74,400
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 5	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Animal Scientists brief Read Biological Technicians brief

Animal Scientists vs Biological Technicians: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Animal Scientists

Biological Technicians

How the national numbers differ

Biological Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Animal Scientists has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

Biological Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Animal Scientists vs Biological Technicians

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