Animal Trainers · Illinois

Animal Trainers Salary in Illinois

Animal Trainers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $45,830 —14.6% above the national median of $39,990. That ranks IL #8 of 47 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$45,830
Median hourly
$22.03
Entry level (P10)
$31,570
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$72,810
90th percentile
Employment
680
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+14.6%
U.S. $39,990

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$31,570
$34,700
$45,830
$59,810
$31,570$45,830$72,810
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $45,830.

Employment concentration (0.92×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for animal trainers

All 47 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Virginia$62,960$30.277201.45
2Alabama$55,700$26.781700.67
3Oregon$55,520$26.691400.60
4California$49,060$23.592,2701.03
5New York$48,790$23.469700.83
6New Jersey$46,690$22.454800.92
7Washington$46,420$22.323600.84
8Illinois$45,830$22.036800.92
9Connecticut$45,800$22.022901.39
10Indiana$45,270$21.763800.98

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Childcare Workers$35,830$34,980
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$32,770$32,150
Recreation Workers$35,480$36,560
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$46,800$47,160
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$34,040$35,790
Animal Caretakers$35,570$35,360

Frequently asked questions

How much do animal trainers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for animal trainers in Illinois is $45,830, or $22.03 per hour. That is 14.6% above the national median of $39,990.

What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,570 per year ($15.18/hour). The 25th percentile is $34,700.

How many people work as animal trainers in Illinois?

About 680 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for animal trainers?

Illinois ranks #8 of 47 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.92x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays animal trainers the most?

Virginia has the highest median wage at $62,960 per year, followed by Alabama ($55,700) and Oregon ($55,520).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes