Also called: Livestock Buyer, Cattle Broker
Buys cattle at auctions and from ranches on behalf of feedlots and packers, judging animals by eye and negotiating price.
You might hit three sale barns in two states in one day, sizing up pens of calves in seconds and bidding for your clients. You arrange trucks to haul what you bought and keep constant phone contact with feedlot managers about prices.
Based on BLS buyers of farm products; commission-based buyers vary widely.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Often an animal science or ag business degree, but experience judging cattle matters most.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Animal Science, Agricultural Business.
Shrinking (about -4% over 10 years). Buyers and purchasing agents of farm products.
Medium risk for 10 years. Online video sales and price data cut legwork; judging cattle by eye and rancher relationships still close the deal.
Classes: Animal science CTE, Economics or business, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-1021.
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.