Also called: DHI Technician, Milk Tester
Visits dairy farms to sample every cow's milk at milking time, so farmers know each cow's production, health and butterfat.
Arrives at a dairy at 4 a.m., hooks sample meters to the milking units and labels a tiny vial for each of 300 cows. You enter data on a tablet and ship samples to the lab, which reports each cow's milk volume, fat, protein and signs of udder infection. Then you drive to the next farm.
Estimate; some testers are paid per cow or per farm.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma; dairy farm experience and on-the-job training.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Dairy Science, Animal Science.
Growing slowly. Fewer, bigger dairies and in-parlor sensors reduce the need for testers.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Robotic milkers and in-line sensors already measure milk automatically, so fewer field testers will be needed.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to your state's dairy herd improvement (DHIA) association; they certify new field techs themselves
Classes: Biology, Animal science (FFA), Computer applications.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.