Animal Scientists vs Foresters: $69K vs $76K Median Pay

Animal Scientists vs Foresters: what changes?

Consider Animal Scientists if you want to conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals. Consider Foresters if you would rather manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

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

Foresters

National median pay (2025): $76,400
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: Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 900

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (13,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Foresters brief

How the national numbers differ

Animal Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Animal Scientists is at 5.8% projected growth, compared with 2.2% projected growth for Foresters.

Foresters has the edge on annual openings

Foresters is at 900 annual openings, compared with 200 annual openings for Animal Scientists.

Typical preparation differs.

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

Foresters has the edge on median pay

Foresters is at $76,400, compared with $68,940 for Animal Scientists.

39.5/ 100

Animal Scientists

39.8/ 100

Foresters

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 Foresters

Dimension	Animal Scientists	Foresters
Median pay (2025)	$68,940	$76,400
Pay percentile	60.5 percentile	66.7 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.8%	2.2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	200	900
2025 employment	3,400	13,200
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 Foresters brief

Animal Scientists vs Foresters: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Animal Scientists

Foresters

How the national numbers differ

Animal Scientists has the edge on projected growth

Foresters has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Foresters has the edge on median pay

Animal Scientists vs Foresters

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