SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact, and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 39-2011.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $29,600 | $2,467 | $569 | $14.23 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $33,740 | $2,812 | $649 | $16.22 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $39,990 | $3,332 | $769 | $19.22 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $53,580 | $4,465 | $1,030 | $25.76 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $75,490 | $6,291 | $1,452 | $36.29 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Animal Trainers is $39,990, which is 22% lower. Among the 32 occupations of the field Personal Care and Service, it ranks number 13 by median pay. With 18,770 jobs, it makes up about 1.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($47,020) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Animal Trainers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Virginia ($62,960), Alabama ($55,700) and Oregon ($55,520). The lowest was in South Carolina ($29,670), Michigan ($30,820) and Ohio ($32,700). The most jobs were in California (2,270), Florida (1,090) and Texas (1,080). The occupation is most concentrated in Maryland, where its share of all jobs is 2.7 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 720 | $62,960 | $74,870 | $30.27 |
| Alabama | 170 | $55,700 | $55,600 | $26.78 |
| Oregon | 140 | $55,520 | $57,330 | $26.69 |
| California | 2,270 | $49,060 | $55,570 | $23.59 |
| New York | 970 | $48,790 | $52,060 | $23.46 |
| New Jersey | 480 | $46,690 | $62,460 | $22.45 |
| Washington | 360 | $46,420 | $48,960 | $22.32 |
| Illinois | 680 | $45,830 | $48,230 | $22.03 |
| Connecticut | 290 | $45,800 | $52,340 | $22.02 |
| Indiana | 380 | $45,270 | $54,810 | $21.76 |
| Georgia | 800 | $45,250 | $51,470 | $21.76 |
| Montana | 80 | $44,680 | $44,260 | $21.48 |
| Colorado | 330 | $44,290 | $50,010 | $21.29 |
| Massachusetts | 510 | $43,580 | $49,390 | $20.95 |
| Iowa | 180 | $43,020 | $50,450 | $20.68 |
| Minnesota | 300 | $41,690 | $46,410 | $20.04 |
| Idaho | 180 | $40,770 | $38,720 | $19.60 |
| Maine | 110 | $40,760 | $41,960 | $19.60 |
| Oklahoma | 250 | $40,310 | $47,110 | $19.38 |
| Arkansas | 110 | $39,400 | $43,410 | $18.94 |
| North Dakota | 30 | $38,970 | $37,700 | $18.73 |
| Pennsylvania | 460 | $38,920 | $42,030 | $18.71 |
| Utah | 260 | $38,580 | $39,140 | $18.55 |
| District of Columbia | not published | $38,200 | $43,290 | $18.37 |
| South Dakota | 30 | $38,120 | $38,100 | $18.33 |
| New Hampshire | 140 | $38,030 | $39,440 | $18.28 |
| North Carolina | 640 | $37,680 | $47,600 | $18.11 |
| Maryland | 890 | $37,430 | $47,310 | $18.00 |
| Wisconsin | 480 | $37,140 | $41,790 | $17.86 |
| West Virginia | 100 | $37,080 | $46,540 | $17.83 |
| Florida | 1,090 | $36,870 | $41,910 | $17.72 |
| Nevada | 170 | $36,760 | $36,230 | $17.67 |
| Texas | 1,080 | $36,370 | $39,700 | $17.49 |
| Tennessee | 310 | $35,320 | $38,750 | $16.98 |
| Mississippi | 40 | $35,130 | $44,300 | $16.89 |
| Alaska | 50 | $34,900 | $36,380 | $16.78 |
| Nebraska | 60 | $34,900 | $37,660 | $16.78 |
| New Mexico | 60 | $34,760 | $34,930 | $16.71 |
| Kansas | 250 | $34,720 | $37,540 | $16.69 |
| Kentucky | 470 | $34,030 | $40,950 | $16.36 |
| Missouri | 250 | $34,010 | $38,910 | $16.35 |
| Delaware | 90 | $33,810 | $37,060 | $16.25 |
| Arizona | not published | $33,330 | $35,430 | $16.02 |
| Louisiana | not published | $32,720 | $32,660 | $15.73 |
| Ohio | 730 | $32,700 | $38,910 | $15.72 |
| Michigan | 800 | $30,820 | $33,640 | $14.82 |
| South Carolina | 200 | $29,670 | $33,580 | $14.27 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Crematory Operators$43,650 a year
- Residential Advisors$42,240 a year
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$41,600 a year
- Concierges$38,950 a year
- Motion Picture Projectionists$38,270 a year
- Barbers$38,210 a year
Common questions
How much do Animal Trainers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $39,990 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,600 and the highest-paid 10% more than $75,490.
How many people work as Animal Trainers?
About 18,770 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.