Mid-Level

Livestock Sales Representative

The agricultural broker — connecting livestock producers with buyers for cattle, hogs, and other animals.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
R
S
I
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Livestock Sales Representatives
Employment concentration · ~392 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Livestock Sales Representative

As a Livestock Sales Representative, you work in the agricultural commodities market, buying and selling live animals. This might involve representing producers at livestock auctions, selling breeding stock, or connecting ranchers with feedlots and processors. You need to understand animal quality, market conditions, and the agricultural business.

Your day involves evaluating livestock, negotiating prices, coordinating transportation, and managing buyer and seller relationships. You might inspect cattle at a ranch, negotiate prices with a feedlot buyer, arrange trucking for sold animals, and track market prices and trends. The work often involves rural travel and early mornings.

If you understand livestock and enjoy agricultural business relationships, this combines those interests. The challenge is the market volatility — prices fluctuate significantly — and the rural lifestyle required. The people who thrive here have genuine agricultural background and passion for the industry.

RelationshipsAbove avg
AchievementModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
IndependenceModerate
RecognitionLower
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Species focusMarket segmentAuction vs directGeographic territoryCommission structure
Livestock sales varies by animal type and market structure. Cattle markets differ from hog or sheep. Some reps work through auction systems; others do direct private treaty sales. Breeding stock sales involve different expertise than feeder animals. Regional differences in production practices matter significantly.
✦ 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 Sales Representatives (SOC 41-4012.00), 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 Sales Representative career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Animal evaluation
Accurately assessing livestock quality is fundamental
2
Market analysis
Understanding price trends and timing creates value
3
Producer relationships
Trust with ranchers and farmers generates consistent business
What species and market segments does this position focus on?
What is the geographic territory?
How is compensation structured — salary, commission, or combination?
What technology and market data resources are provided?
What does the typical weekly schedule look like?
✦ 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.

$38K–$134K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
1.3M
U.S. Employment
+0.3%
10yr Growth
115K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$58K$55K$52K201920202021202220232024$52K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningPersuasionSocial PerceptivenessNegotiationCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWritingService OrientationJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
41-4012.00

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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.