Animal Trainer Salary
Animal Trainers earn a median $39,990 a year nationally. Personal Care and Service Occupations
U.S. median
$39,990
$19.23 per hour
Range
$29,600 – $75,490
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
18,770
across the U.S.
Animal Trainer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$34,312
per year · effective tax rate 14.2%
$2,859Monthly
$1,430Twice a month
$1,320Every 2 weeks
$16.50Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,619
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,479
- Medicare (1.45%)$580
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$34,312
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,600 | $14.23 | $25,964 |
| 25th percentile | $33,740 | $16.22 | $29,290 |
| Median (50th) | $39,990 | $19.23 | $34,312 |
| 75th percentile | $53,580 | $25.76 | $45,232 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,490 | $36.29 | $61,937 |
Best cities for animal trainers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | $46,810 | $37,985 | $37,963 | 680 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $50,460 | $40,863 | $37,529 | 650 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,230 | $41,554 | $36,590 | 830 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $46,890 | $37,680 | $36,372 | 580 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $50,020 | $40,267 | $35,773 | 970 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $42,180 | $34,183 | $31,573 | 500 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $34,620 | $28,716 | $27,483 | 460 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $30,920 | $25,961 | $25,884 | 450 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $51,230
- Washington, DC — $50,460
- New York, NY — $50,020
- Chicago, IL — $46,890
- Atlanta, GA — $46,810
- Boston, MA — $42,180
- Baltimore, MD — $34,620
- Detroit, MI — $30,920
Animal Trainer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $62,960 | $49,962 | $35,270 – $122,170 | 720 |
| Alabama | $55,700 | $44,415 | $33,950 – $70,520 | 170 |
| Oregon | $55,520 | $42,762 | $36,310 – $86,120 | 140 |
| California | $49,060 | $39,969 | $37,300 – $78,770 | 2,270 |
| New York | $48,790 | $39,345 | $35,400 – $71,510 | 970 |
| New Jersey | $46,690 | $38,664 | $35,860 – $103,370 | 480 |
| Washington | $46,420 | $39,478 | $37,490 – $58,780 | 360 |
| Illinois | $45,830 | $36,881 | $31,570 – $72,810 | 680 |
| Connecticut | $45,800 | $37,844 | $36,530 – $68,580 | 290 |
| Indiana | $45,270 | $37,248 | $32,100 – $86,840 | 380 |
| Georgia | $45,250 | $36,813 | $29,880 – $79,620 | 800 |
| Montana | $44,680 | $36,737 | $33,060 – $57,860 | 80 |
| Colorado | $44,290 | $36,527 | $36,420 – $67,330 | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $43,580 | $35,238 | $33,670 – $82,810 | 510 |
| Iowa | $43,020 | $35,764 | $31,070 – $83,860 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $41,690 | $34,266 | $34,190 – $62,820 | 300 |
| Idaho | $40,770 | $33,886 | $30,530 – $44,200 | 180 |
| Maine | $40,760 | $33,358 | $37,080 – $48,230 | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $40,310 | $33,301 | $28,360 – $79,990 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $39,400 | $32,514 | $31,280 – $59,260 | 110 |
| North Dakota | $38,970 | $33,492 | $30,060 – $42,040 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,920 | $32,257 | $31,410 – $58,670 | 460 |
| Utah | $38,580 | $32,409 | $24,580 – $49,870 | 260 |
| District of Columbia | $38,200 | $31,748 | $38,200 – $66,440 | — |
| South Dakota | $38,120 | $32,809 | $30,530 – $44,780 | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $38,030 | $32,737 | $21,430 – $57,840 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $37,680 | $31,461 | $24,680 – $84,750 | 640 |
| Maryland | $37,430 | $30,841 | $31,270 – $73,530 | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $37,140 | $31,169 | $29,420 – $62,810 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $37,080 | $30,972 | $29,510 – $76,750 | 100 |
| Florida | $36,870 | $31,805 | $30,350 – $61,860 | 1,090 |
| Nevada | $36,760 | $31,717 | $26,780 – $48,880 | 170 |
| Texas | $36,370 | $31,403 | $25,970 – $57,490 | 1,080 |
| Tennessee | $35,320 | $30,560 | $27,650 – $56,450 | 310 |
| Mississippi | $35,130 | $29,734 | $31,290 – $77,990 | 40 |
| Alaska | $34,900 | $30,222 | $34,900 – $43,870 | 50 |
| Nebraska | $34,900 | $29,514 | $33,220 – $49,070 | 60 |
| New Mexico | $34,760 | $29,582 | $29,710 – $41,350 | 60 |
| Kansas | $34,720 | $28,936 | $28,600 – $52,240 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $34,030 | $28,450 | $23,460 – $60,000 | 470 |
| Missouri | $34,010 | $28,846 | $30,390 – $53,580 | 250 |
| Delaware | $33,810 | $28,147 | $31,200 – $45,670 | 90 |
| Arizona | $33,330 | $28,336 | $31,250 – $41,620 | — |
| Louisiana | $32,720 | $27,875 | $20,840 – $44,160 | — |
| Ohio | $32,700 | $28,338 | $27,640 – $65,330 | 730 |
| Michigan | $30,820 | $25,885 | $27,370 – $43,360 | 800 |
| South Carolina | $29,670 | $25,397 | $27,040 – $43,280 | 200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal trainer make?
The national median salary for animal trainers is $39,990 a year ($19.23 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,600 and the top 10% earn over $75,490. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays animal trainers the most?
Virginia has the highest median pay at $62,960. After taxes and local prices, Atlanta, GA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many animal trainers are there in the U.S.?
About 18,770 people work as animal trainers nationwide.