Animal Trainers · New Jersey

Animal Trainers Salary in New Jersey

Animal Trainers in New Jersey earn a median annual wage of $46,690 —16.8% above the national median of $39,990. That ranks NJ #6 of 47 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$46,690
Median hourly
$22.45
Entry level (P10)
$35,860
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$103,370
90th percentile
Employment
480
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+16.8%
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
$35,860
$39,850
$46,690
$75,470
$35,860$46,690$103,370
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $46,690.

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

Highest-paying states for animal trainers

All 47 states ranked by median annual wage. New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New Jersey.

OccupationNew Jersey medianU.S. median
Childcare Workers$36,390$34,980
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$34,500$32,150
Recreation Workers$36,880$36,560
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$59,870$47,160
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$36,150$35,790
Animal Caretakers$35,850$35,360

Frequently asked questions

How much do animal trainers make in New Jersey?

The median annual wage for animal trainers in New Jersey is $46,690, or $22.45 per hour. That is 16.8% above the national median of $39,990.

What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in New Jersey?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,860 per year ($17.24/hour). The 25th percentile is $39,850.

How many people work as animal trainers in New Jersey?

About 480 people work in this occupation in New Jersey, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New Jersey a good state for animal trainers?

New Jersey ranks #6 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