Mid-Level

Livestock Broker

Livestock brokers connect buyers and sellers of livestock — matching supply with demand, negotiating terms, and earning commission on the trades.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
R
I
S
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
What it's like

What it's like to be a Livestock Broker

Workdays involve calls and visits with producers, feedlots, and packers about what's available and what's needed. Market analysis runs throughout — livestock prices move daily on supply, demand, weather, and feed costs.

Collaboration involves producers, buyers, and sometimes auction barns. What's harder than expected is the market knowledge required — livestock prices move daily, and reading them takes years of being in the business. The broker who can't read the market accurately leaves money on the table for both sides.

People who thrive tend to be knowledgeable about livestock, comfortable with travel, and good at relationship-based business. If you're grounded in the industry, the role often fits — livestock brokerage is hard to enter without prior connection. People without rural background usually find the relationships and the market knowledge harder to build than the financial side suggests.

IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
AchievementModerate
RelationshipsModerate
RecognitionLower
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Livestock Brokers (SOC 13-1021.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Livestock Broker career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$46K–$128K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
974K
U.S. Employment

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingSpeakingActive ListeningPersuasionReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingNegotiationComplex Problem SolvingWritingTime Management
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1021.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.