Animal Scientists vs Conservation Scientists: $69K vs $73K Median Pay

Animal Scientists vs Conservation Scientists: what changes?

Consider Animal Scientists if you want to conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals. Consider Conservation Scientists if you would rather manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Animal Scientists and Conservation Scientists. 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

Conservation Scientists

National median pay (2025): $73,010
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: Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,100

Know before you choose

Operating or riding in vehicles is a recurring part of the work rather than an occasional trip.

See the full Conservation Scientists brief

How the national numbers differ

Conservation Scientists has the edge on annual openings

Conservation Scientists is at 2,100 annual openings, compared with 200 annual openings for Animal Scientists.

Typical preparation differs.

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

Animal Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Animal Scientists is at 5.8% projected growth, compared with 5.3% projected growth for Conservation Scientists.

Conservation Scientists has the edge on median pay

Conservation Scientists is at $73,010, compared with $68,940 for Animal Scientists.

39.5/ 100

Animal Scientists

50.9/ 100

Conservation Scientists

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 Conservation Scientists

Dimension	Animal Scientists	Conservation Scientists
Median pay (2025)	$68,940	$73,010
Pay percentile	60.5 percentile	62.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.8%	5.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	200	2,100
2025 employment	3,400	27,700
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 Conservation Scientists brief

Animal Scientists vs Conservation Scientists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Animal Scientists

Conservation Scientists

How the national numbers differ

Conservation Scientists has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Animal Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Conservation Scientists has the edge on median pay

Animal Scientists vs Conservation Scientists

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