Also called: Animal Nutritionist (PhD)
Designs the recipes for dog food, cat food, and other pet diets.
Pet food nutritionists formulate diets, run feeding trials, and work with flavor teams (yes, pets have taste testers too) at companies like Purina and Hill's.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in animal nutrition, or DVM with nutrition residency.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Animal Science, Nutrition, Biology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Formulation software and AI optimize recipes faster, trimming some roles; feeding trials and nutrition science calls stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Animal science CTE, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1011.
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.