by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Dairy Husbandry & Production explores Dairy Husbandry And Production. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Selection And Care Of Dairy Animals And Associated Dairy Farm And Processing Facilities And Operations. Includes Instruction In Basic Animal And Dairy Science; Dairy Animal Nutrition And Health; Design And Operation Of Dairy Housing, Feeding, And Processing Facilities And Equipment; And Related Issues Of Safety, Sanitation, Shipping And Handling, And Applicable Regulations. Read on to learn the key facts every dairy husbandry & production student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering dairy husbandry & production programs.
In the U.S., dairy husbandry & production is a popular field of study, with 60 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Dairy Husbandry & Production Schools ranking analyzes these 11 schools to determine the best overall colleges for dairy husbandry & production students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of dairy husbandry & production programs later in this article.
Programs in Dairy Husbandry & Production emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations dairy husbandry & production graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a dairy husbandry & production program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a dairy husbandry & production major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several dairy husbandry & production degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 23 |
People currently working in careers related to dairy husbandry & production tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 68.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in dairy husbandry & production careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in dairy husbandry & production opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to dairy husbandry & production.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dairy husbandry & production.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of dairy husbandry & production graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $41,174 |
| 5 years | $47,624 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for dairy husbandry & production graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers dairy husbandry & production grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
With 11 different dairy husbandry & production programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased dairy husbandry & production school rankings to help you.
Those considering dairy husbandry & production, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production | 841 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, General | 820 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 769 |
| Crop Production | 516 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 458 |
| Aquaculture | 127 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Other | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
