Animal trainer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$38.77 per hour

$80,650 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$21.31 per hour

$44,330 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$16.55 per hour

$34,420 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$14.57 per hour

$30,310 per year

10th percentile

Starting level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$13.63 per hour

$28,350 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Animal trainer salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New York $49,620
Alaska $47,780
Maryland $38,360
Massachusetts $37,690
Kentucky $37,590
Arkansas $37,490
Delaware $37,490
Oregon $37,490
Wisconsin $37,410
California $36,780
South Dakota $36,310
Connecticut $36,180
New Hampshire $36,060
Virginia $36,060
Hawaii $35,930
Florida $35,840
Illinois $35,110
Washington $34,860
New Jersey $34,420
Colorado $31,630
Minnesota $30,960
Michigan $30,720
North Carolina $30,670
New Mexico $30,100
South Carolina $29,980
Maine $29,830
Georgia $29,820
Iowa $29,820
Louisiana $29,780
Ohio $29,630
West Virginia $29,630
Kansas $29,420
Oklahoma $29,390
Alabama $29,140
Montana $29,060
Pennsylvania $28,980
Missouri $28,800
Indiana $28,780
Arizona $28,610
North Dakota $28,400
Texas $28,350
Utah $28,220
Nevada $28,210
Mississippi $27,250
Nebraska $24,270
Tennessee $24,140
Idaho $22,630
Puerto Rico $20,870

How do animal trainer salaries compare to similar careers?

Animal trainers earn 25% less than similar careers in New Jersey. On average, they make less than aquacultural managers but more than animal caretakers.

Career Median Salary
Aquacultural manager salary $100K
Zoologist salary $82K
Fish and game warden salary $78K
Animal control worker salary $47K
Exterminator salary $44K
Animal trainer salary $34K
Veterinary technologist salary $39K
Veterinary assistant salary $33K
Animal caretaker salary $29K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)