What are employers looking for?
students desiring meaningful and fulfilling career opportunities are advised that to takes more than a college degree to be successful. Employers are searching for people with the following attributes:

• Ability and desire to work and go the extra mile
• Strong commitment to achievement and excellence
• Superior communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to solve problems and make sound decisions
• Demonstrated ability to work
• A willingness to relocate
• high degree of curiosity and self-motivation
• Ability to effectively relate to other people, both peers and supervisors
• Successful completion of at least one internship
• Demonstrated leadership skills

Animal Industries Create Career Opportunities
The U.S. equine industry is highly diverse, supporting a wide variety of activities in all regions of the country. This industry includes breeding, training, and maintaining horses, operating tracks, show and recreational facilities as well as numerous ancillary activities. These include feed, tack, equipment, and real estate sales, legal services, art, photography and literature. Current estimates place 6.9 million horses in the United States involving 7.1 million Americans. These people serve the industry as owners/employers, service providers, employees and volunteers.

The equine industry has a substantial impact on the U.S. economy as a whole. Over $2.5 billion are directly produced as goods and services annually. This relates to a total impact of $112.1 billion on the U.S. Gross domestic Product. Further, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 1.4 million full-time equivalent equine-related jobs were created across the U.S.

The international market provides additional opportunities as the global economy expands. Many countries increase their consumption of animal products as their standard of living rises. Export markets are becoming increasingly important, not only for livestock producers but for agribusiness as well. Students with multiple language skills and international travel expedience coupled with a university education are in increasing demand.

Where Are The Jobs?
Students with B.S. degrees in animal science are entering the following general career areas:

What are the Starting Salaries?
The starting salaries for graduates vary considerably and students are advised to keep in mind both the long-term opportunities for growth, benefits packages, and degree of job satisfaction when seeking employment. However, average starting salaries for graduates are:

When To Start Seeking Career Information?
Start early - even in high school. Those who prepare early put themselves in a position to command the highest demand in the marketplace. Employment statistics suggest that people will change jobs 6 to 8 times throughout their working life and thus the process of seeking and analyzing career information is a lifelong task.

Choosing a Career in the Equine Industry - Science Concentration

Preparation for: