Jobs Similar to Animal Scientists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to animal scientists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Soil and Plant Scientists, Food Scientists and Technologists and Microbiologists.
Animal Scientists: $68,940 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Animal Scientists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 83% | $78,850+14% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Food Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 81% | $88,720+29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 80% | $87,990+28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSame group | 78% | $103,410+50% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Conservation ScientistsSame group | 78% | $73,010+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | GeneticistsSame group | 78% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | BiologistsSame group | 78% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Molecular and Cellular BiologistsSame group | 77% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Industrial Ecologists | 77% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 76% | $82,220+19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 76% | $76,780+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Bioinformatics ScientistsSame group | 75% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 75% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Biochemists and BiophysicistsSame group | 75% | $127,410+85% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Physicians, Pathologists | 74% | $312,400+353% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Range ManagersSame group | 73% | $73,010Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 73% | $101,920+48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Veterinarians | 73% | $130,100+89% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Materials Scientists | 73% | $117,790+71% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 73% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Soil and Plant Scientists
83% similar · $78,850 (+14%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Food Scientists and Technologists
81% similar · $88,720 (+29%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Microbiologists
80% similar · $87,990 (+28%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
78% similar · $103,410 (+50%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Conservation Scientists
78% similar · $73,010 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Geneticists
78% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Biologists
78% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Molecular and Cellular Biologists
77% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Industrial Ecologists
77% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 10Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
76% similar · $82,220 (+19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
76% similar · $76,780 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Bioinformatics Scientists
75% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Environmental Restoration Planners
75% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 14Biochemists and Biophysicists
75% similar · $127,410 (+85%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Physicians, Pathologists
74% similar · $312,400 (+353%) · Graduate degree
- 16Range Managers
73% similar · $73,010 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
73% similar · $101,920 (+48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Veterinarians
73% similar · $130,100 (+89%) · Graduate degree
- 19Materials Scientists
73% similar · $117,790 (+71%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Bioinformatics Technicians
73% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than animal scientists.
- Physicians, Pathologists74% similar · $312,400 (+353%)
- Veterinarians73% similar · $130,100 (+89%)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists75% similar · $127,410 (+85%)
- Materials Scientists73% similar · $117,790 (+71%)
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists78% similar · $103,410 (+50%)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers73% similar · $101,920 (+48%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Food Scientists and Technologists81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Microbiologists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Conservation Scientists78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Range Managers73% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for animal scientists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where animal scientists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like animal scientists
What jobs are most similar to animal scientists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Soil and Plant Scientists (83% similar), Food Scientists and Technologists (81% similar), Microbiologists (80% similar), Medical Scientists (78% similar) and Conservation Scientists (78% similar).
Which jobs like animal scientists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicians (Pathologists) ($312,400, +353%; usually a graduate degree), Veterinarians ($130,100, +89%; usually a graduate degree) and Biochemists and Biophysicists ($127,410, +85%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with animal scientists ($68,940). Without more preparation than animal scientists usually need: Physicians (Pathologists), Veterinarians and Biochemists and Biophysicists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.