SOC 45-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Breeders — California
California · 2 metro areas compared
In California the median wage for Animal Breeders is $59,280 a year, which is 15.9% higher than the national figure of $51,130.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage for Animal Breeders is $59,280 a year, which is 15.9% higher than the national figure of $51,130. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $55,120 and $73,320. The lowest tenth earn under $47,400, while the highest tenth earn more than $94,450.
The area has 410 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.60 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. California ranks number 2nd out of 9 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Diego records the highest median at $69,070. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 496th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,400 | −7.3% |
| 25th | $55,120 | +7.8% |
| Median (50th) | $59,280 | +15.9% |
| 75th | $73,320 | +43.4% |
| 90th | $94,450 | +84.7% |
| Mean | $66,550 | +30.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | $69,070 | — | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $58,440 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $59,280 buys what $53,550 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,280as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,550US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,280 a year, 15.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,400 to $94,450 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 410 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 9 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Diego, at $69,070.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Breeders in California?
The median annual wage is $59,280, or $28.50 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $51,130, so pay in California is 15.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $94,450 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,400 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Diego, at $69,070 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 410 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data