The average salary for an animal trainer in the United States is around $30,430 per year.
Avg Salary
Animal trainers earn an average yearly salary of $30,430.
Wages typically start from $20,810 and go up to $59,110.
45% below national average Updated in 2019
Animal trainer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level animal trainer earnings begin at:
$28.42 per hour
$59,110 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level animal trainer earnings begin at:
$20.23 per hour
$42,080 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level animal trainer earnings begin at:
$14.63 per hour
$30,430 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level animal trainer earnings begin at:
$11.60 per hour
$24,120 per year
10th percentile
Starting level animal trainer earnings begin at:
$10.00 per hour
$20,810 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Animal trainer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | $45,750 |
| Washington | $38,460 |
| Illinois | $37,340 |
| South Carolina | $35,240 |
| California | $34,950 |
| Connecticut | $34,850 |
| New York | $34,530 |
| Massachusetts | $34,450 |
| Indiana | $33,200 |
| New Mexico | $32,870 |
| Minnesota | $32,110 |
| Hawaii | $31,410 |
| New Hampshire | $31,280 |
| Delaware | $31,200 |
| Nebraska | $29,170 |
| Florida | $28,870 |
| North Dakota | $28,400 |
| Georgia | $28,280 |
| Alabama | $28,020 |
| Virginia | $27,660 |
| Oklahoma | $27,610 |
| Colorado | $27,460 |
| Missouri | $26,670 |
| Nevada | $26,620 |
| Arkansas | $26,300 |
| Texas | $26,010 |
| Utah | $25,970 |
| Iowa | $25,520 |
| New Jersey | $25,510 |
| Maryland | $24,950 |
| West Virginia | $24,780 |
| Oregon | $24,580 |
| Arizona | $24,540 |
| North Carolina | $24,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $24,270 |
| Louisiana | $24,210 |
| Tennessee | $24,170 |
| Alaska | $24,080 |
| Michigan | $24,070 |
| Ohio | $23,700 |
| Montana | $23,610 |
| Wisconsin | $23,170 |
| Maine | $23,040 |
| Kansas | $22,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,870 |
| Idaho | $19,340 |
| Mississippi | $19,270 |
How do animal trainer salaries compare to similar careers?
Animal trainers earn 10% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than animal scientists but more than animal caretakers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal scientist salary | $60K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $58K |
| Animal breeder salary | $43K |
| Animal control worker salary | $38K |
| Exterminator salary | $38K |
| Animal trainer salary | $30K |
| Veterinary technologist salary | $30K |
| Veterinary assistant salary | $23K |
| Animal caretaker salary | $22K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)