How much does an animal trainer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $19.23 an hour or $3,333 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.23
- Average (mean)
- $47,020
- Jobs
- 18,770
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,600 | $14.23 | |
| 25th | $33,740 | $16.22 | |
| Median | $39,990 | $19.23 | |
| 75th | $53,580 | $25.76 | |
| 90th | $75,490 | $36.29 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Virginia | $62,960 |
| Alabama | $55,700 |
| Oregon | $55,520 |
| California | $49,060 |
| New York | $48,790 |
| New Jersey | $46,690 |
| Washington | $46,420 |
| Illinois | $45,830 |
| Connecticut | $45,800 |
| Indiana | $45,270 |
| Georgia | $45,250 |
| Montana | $44,680 |
| Colorado | $44,290 |
| Massachusetts | $43,580 |
| Iowa | $43,020 |
| Minnesota | $41,690 |
| Idaho | $40,770 |
| Maine | $40,760 |
| Oklahoma | $40,310 |
| Arkansas | $39,400 |
| North Dakota | $38,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,920 |
| Utah | $38,580 |
| District of Columbia | $38,200 |
| South Dakota | $38,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,030 |
| North Carolina | $37,680 |
| Maryland | $37,430 |
| Wisconsin | $37,140 |
| West Virginia | $37,080 |
| Florida | $36,870 |
| Nevada | $36,760 |
| Texas | $36,370 |
| Tennessee | $35,320 |
| Mississippi | $35,130 |
| Alaska | $34,900 |
| Nebraska | $34,900 |
| New Mexico | $34,760 |
| Kansas | $34,720 |
| Kentucky | $34,030 |
| Missouri | $34,010 |
| Delaware | $33,810 |
| Arizona | $33,330 |
| Louisiana | $32,720 |
| Ohio | $32,700 |
| Michigan | $30,820 |
| South Carolina | $29,670 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Virginia Beach, VA | $99,190 |
| Portland, OR | $66,040 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $64,430 |
| San Francisco, CA | $61,490 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $59,710 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $58,160 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $58,090 |
| Raleigh, NC | $55,560 |
| San Jose, CA | $54,810 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $51,230 |
| Washington, DC | $50,460 |
| Oxnard, CA | $50,420 |
| Seattle, WA | $50,260 |
| New York, NY | $50,020 |
| Tulsa, OK | $49,320 |
In other countries
Animal Trainer belongs to the international group "Pet groomers and animal care workers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Animal Caretaker$35,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does an animal trainer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $19.23 ($39,990 a year).
How much does an animal trainer make a month?
About $3,333 a month before tax, based on a median of $39,990 a year.
How much does an animal trainer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,600 or less a year ($14.23 an hour); the top 10% make $75,490 or more.
Which state pays animal trainers the most?
Virginia, with a median of $62,960 a year, followed by Alabama ($55,700) and Oregon ($55,520).
Which city pays animal trainers the most?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, with a median of $99,190 a year.
How many animal trainers are there in the United States?
About 18,770 people work as animal trainers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.