All careers › Animal Breeders
Dog breeder: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $38,480lowest 10% earn less
- $44,32025th percentile
- $51,130median
- $62,08075th percentile
- $90,550top 10% earn more
Animal breeders, the official category that covers a dog breeder, earned a median of $51,130 a year in May 2025[1]. That is close to the median for all occupations, and jobs are projected to grow at about the same slow pace as the economy overall[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,000[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do dog breeders make?
O*NET lists Dog Breeder as a sample job title in the BLS category Animal Breeders[8]. In May 2025 the median wage was $51,130 a year, or $24.58 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was higher, at $57,010 a year or $27.41 an hour[9]. For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5].
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,480 a year, while the highest-paid 10% earned more than $90,550[4]. BLS explains that a percentile is a boundary, and it does not publish a starting salary[10].
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[4][11] | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| 25th[4][11] | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| Median[1] | $51,130 | $24.58 |
| 75th[4][11] | $62,080 | $29.85 |
| 90th[4][11] | $90,550 | $43.53 |
These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms, and they do not count bonuses or benefits[12]. About 3.5% of animal breeders were self-employed in 2025[13].
Pay by state and city
BLS published state wages for only 9 states[14]. Of those, Ohio had the highest median at $68,980, followed by California at $59,280 and Alabama at $53,200[14]. Nebraska had the lowest of the nine at $40,220[14].
California had the most animal breeder jobs, with 410[15]. Minnesota had 170, New York 140, Ohio 80 and Alabama 60[15]. In the New York-Newark-Jersey City area, the one metro listed, there were 50 jobs and a median of $49,350[16].
Show median pay in 9 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio[14] | $68,980 | 80 |
| California | $59,280 | 410 |
| Alabama | $53,200 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $51,130 | 40 |
| Texas | $48,410 | 60 |
| New York | $48,350 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $47,900 | 170 |
| South Dakota | $44,850 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $40,220 | 40 |
How to become a dog breeder
The entry path is short, based on the facts below. The details come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of agricultural workers[17].
- First: get a high school diploma or equivalent. That is the typical education for entry[7]. The profile adds that some jobs ask for postsecondary education[18].
- Next: learn on the job. The typical training is short-term, and no related work experience is needed[7].
- Then: build experience with animals if you can. The profile says breeders sometimes need experience working with livestock, and ranch workers may move into breeding as they learn to handle animals[19].
In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 86% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required and 6% said a post-secondary certificate[20].
A few states require some types of animal breeders to be licensed. The profile suggests checking with your state licensing board[21].
What dog breeders and other animal breeders do
O*NET describes the work as choosing and breeding animals based on their family lines, traits and offspring[22]. Common tasks include:
- Feeding and watering animals, and cleaning their pens and yards[23].
- Watching for signs that animals are in heat[23].
- Treating minor injuries and calling a veterinarian for serious ones[23].
- Choosing which animals to breed based on genealogy and desired traits[23].
- Keeping records such as weights, growth and diets[23].
- Tagging or marking animals so they can be identified[23].
- Arranging the sale of animals and eggs[23].
O*NET lists "Dog Breeder" among sample job titles[8].
Where they work
The BLS profile for agricultural workers says the work is usually outdoors in all kinds of weather[24]. It can be physically hard, and workers who deal directly with animals risk being bitten or kicked[25][26]. Full-time work is typical, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[27]. Schedules can include early mornings, weekends and holidays because animals need constant care[27]. This describes the wider group of agricultural workers, not only breeders[17].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of animal breeders to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,900 to 7,100 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. The projection counts self-employed workers, so it is larger than the 1,330 wage and salary jobs counted in the wage survey[28][2].
BLS expects about 1,000 openings a year on average[6]. Those include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year 6.4% of workers leave the labor force and 7.3% move to a different occupation[29].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job with a low barrier to entry: a high school diploma, short on-the-job training and no required related experience[7]. Pay is near the all-occupations median, with a wide spread between the lower and upper ends[1][5][4]. Growth is slow, at 3% over ten years[2]. The work is outdoors, physical and tied to animal care schedules[24][27]. If you plan to breed on your own, keep in mind that the wage figures here do not cover the self-employed[12].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a dog breeder make a year?
- Animal breeders had a median wage of $51,130 a year in May 2025, and the average was $57,010[1][9]. These figures leave out the self-employed[12].
- How much does a dog breeder make an hour?
- The median hourly wage was $24.58 and the average was $27.41[1][9].
- What education do you need to be a dog breeder?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[7]. Some jobs may require postsecondary education[18].
- Is animal breeding in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 1,000 openings a year are expected[6].
- What is the highest paying state for animal breeders?
- Among the 9 states with published data, Ohio had the highest median at $68,980[14].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Animal Breeders in the US was $51,130 per year and $24.58 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Animal Breeders is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,900 to 7,100 jobs (a change of +200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Animal Breeders: 10th percentile $38,480, 25th percentile $44,320, 75th percentile $62,080, 90th percentile $90,550. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,000 openings for Animal Breeders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Animal Breeders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- O*NET 45-2021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Animal Technician, Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician), Artificial Inseminator, Breeder, Dog Breeder, Large Herd Specialist. O*NET OnLine
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Animal Breeders was $57,010 per year and $27.41 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Animal Breeders: 10th percentile $18.50, 25th percentile $21.31, 75th percentile $29.85, 90th percentile $43.53. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 3.5% of Animal Breeders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for Animal Breeders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Animal Breeders jobs: California 410; Minnesota 170; New York 140; Ohio 80; Alabama 60. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Animal Breeders jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 50 (median $49,350). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Agricultural Workers" covers Animal Breeders together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 45-2021.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 86%, Post-Secondary Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Animal Breeders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Animal Breeders. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,330 people were employed as Animal Breeders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Animal Breeders: 6.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.