Animal Trainers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for animal trainers is $39,990, or $19.22 per hour. About 18,770 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $62,960 in Virginia to $29,670 in South Carolina.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 47 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $62,960 | $30.27 | 720 | 1.45 |
| 2 | Alabama | $55,700 | $26.78 | 170 | 0.67 |
| 3 | Oregon | $55,520 | $26.69 | 140 | 0.60 |
| 4 | California | $49,060 | $23.59 | 2,270 | 1.03 |
| 5 | New York | $48,790 | $23.46 | 970 | 0.83 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $46,690 | $22.45 | 480 | 0.92 |
| 7 | Washington | $46,420 | $22.32 | 360 | 0.84 |
| 8 | Illinois | $45,830 | $22.03 | 680 | 0.92 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $45,800 | $22.02 | 290 | 1.39 |
| 10 | Indiana | $45,270 | $21.76 | 380 | 0.98 |
| 11 | Georgia | $45,250 | $21.76 | 800 | 1.35 |
| 12 | Montana | $44,680 | $21.48 | 80 | 1.26 |
| 13 | Colorado | $44,290 | $21.29 | 330 | 0.94 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $43,580 | $20.95 | 510 | 1.17 |
| 15 | Iowa | $43,020 | $20.68 | 180 | 0.97 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $41,690 | $20.04 | 300 | 0.84 |
| 17 | Idaho | $40,770 | $19.60 | 180 | 1.72 |
| 18 | Maine | $40,760 | $19.60 | 110 | 1.44 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $40,310 | $19.38 | 250 | 1.21 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $39,400 | $18.94 | 110 | 0.73 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $38,970 | $18.73 | 30 | 0.62 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $38,920 | $18.71 | 460 | 0.63 |
| 23 | Utah | $38,580 | $18.55 | 260 | 1.24 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $38,200 | $18.37 | — | — |
| 25 | South Dakota | $38,120 | $18.33 | 30 | 0.62 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $38,030 | $18.28 | 140 | 1.68 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $37,680 | $18.11 | 640 | 1.07 |
| 28 | Maryland | $37,430 | $18.00 | 890 | 2.67 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $37,140 | $17.86 | 480 | 1.35 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $37,080 | $17.83 | 100 | 1.15 |
| 31 | Florida | $36,870 | $17.72 | 1,090 | 0.91 |
| 32 | Nevada | $36,760 | $17.67 | 170 | 0.93 |
| 33 | Texas | $36,370 | $17.49 | 1,080 | 0.64 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $35,320 | $16.98 | 310 | 0.77 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $35,130 | $16.89 | 40 | 0.30 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $34,900 | $16.78 | 60 | 0.52 |
| 37 | Alaska | $34,900 | $16.78 | 50 | 1.30 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $34,760 | $16.71 | 60 | 0.54 |
| 39 | Kansas | $34,720 | $16.69 | 250 | 1.44 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $34,030 | $16.36 | 470 | 1.94 |
| 41 | Missouri | $34,010 | $16.35 | 250 | 0.70 |
| 42 | Delaware | $33,810 | $16.25 | 90 | 1.59 |
| 43 | Arizona | $33,330 | $16.02 | — | — |
| 44 | Louisiana | $32,720 | $15.73 | — | — |
| 45 | Ohio | $32,700 | $15.72 | 730 | 1.08 |
| 46 | Michigan | $30,820 | $14.82 | 800 | 1.50 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $29,670 | $14.27 | 200 | 0.71 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do animal trainers make?
The median annual wage for animal trainers in the United States is $39,990, or $19.22 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $29,600, and the top 10% earn $75,490.
How many animal trainers are employed in the U.S.?
About 18,770 people work as animal trainers nationwide.
Which state pays animal trainers the most?
Virginia pays the most at a median of $62,960, followed by Alabama ($55,700) and Oregon ($55,520).
Which state pays animal trainers the least?
South Carolina has the lowest median at $29,670.
Where are animal trainers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Maryland at 2.67×.