Embryo transplant involves purposely moving an embryo into a uterus for the purpose of engaging pregnancy and bringing about birth. Although this procedure is used with people, breeders use embryo transplant techniques with great success in the agricultural industry. Bovine embryo transplant specialists focus on transplanting embryos in cattle. Although these workers don't have particularly high salaries, the value of the animals they help produce cannot be understated.

Average Pay

Bovine embryo transplant specialists are closely involved in the cattle breeding process and often have extensive knowledge of other breeding techniques. Subsequently, they fall into the general "Animal Breeders" category within the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau reports that the average yearly compensation for those in this category was $35,620, or $17.13 per hour.

Range

The BLS states that animal breeders, including bovine embryo transplant workers, in the 10th percentile earned $18,330 per year, or $8.81 per hour, in May 2010. The 10th percentile indicates workers whose pay fell into a range that only 10 percent of all employed animal breeders made less than. In the 25th percentile, the rate was $23,520 annually, which converts to $11.31 hourly. Specialists and other breeders at the median earned $31,340 per year, the same as $15.07 per hour in a 40 hour week. Pay in the 75th percentile was $43,590 per year, or $20.96 hourly. In the 90th percentile, breeders made an annual salary of $57,400, or $27.60 per hour. The rough range for bovine embryo transfer specialists and similar workers thus was $18,000 to $57,000.

Pay by Sector

Animal breeders have two major sectors in which to work. The first is "Support Activities for Animal Production." The second is "Animal Processing and Slaughtering." Bovine embryo transplant specialists in the first sector may work with cattle owners who are trying to develop new breeds or who want to increase the number of head of cattle they have. Those in the second sector may do transplants in order to encourage the production of cattle that have specific traits desired in beef products. Breeders working in the "Support Activities for Animal Production" sector earned an average of $37,280 per year in May 2010, according to the BLS. Those in "Animal Processing and Slaughtering" earned less, with an average annual compensation of $31,500.

Pay by State

The BLS shows that, in May 2010, the highest-paying area for animal breeders such as bovine embryo transplant specialists was Pennsylvania, where compensation averaged $41,860 per year. The lowest-paying region was Iowa, where annual salaries averaged $27,140. However, the BLS unfortunately has 2010 regional data only on seven states, so it may be that breeders actually have higher and lower compensations elsewhere in the United States.