Animal trainer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$28.55 per hour

$59,390 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$23.12 per hour

$48,090 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$17.34 per hour

$36,060 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$13.83 per hour

$28,760 per year

10th percentile

Starting level animal trainer earnings begin at:

$11.21 per hour

$23,320 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 about the same as related careers in Virginia. On average, they make less than aquacultural managers but more than animal caretakers.

Career Median Salary
Aquacultural manager salary $60K
Fish and game warden salary $49K
Animal control worker salary $39K
Veterinary technologist salary $45K
Exterminator salary $38K
Animal trainer salary $36K
Veterinary assistant salary $29K
Animal caretaker salary $28K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)