Animal trainers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| Mean (average) | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| 90th percentile | $75,490 | $36.29 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Animal trainers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 47 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,700 | $33,950 | $70,520 | 170 | 0.67 |
| Alaska | $34,900 | $34,900 | $43,870 | 50 | 1.3 |
| Arizona | $33,330 | $31,250 | $41,620 | ||
| Arkansas | $39,400 | $31,280 | $59,260 | 110 | 0.73 |
| California | $49,060 | $37,300 | $78,770 | 2,270 | 1.03 |
| Colorado | $44,290 | $36,420 | $67,330 | 330 | 0.94 |
| Connecticut | $45,800 | $36,530 | $68,580 | 290 | 1.39 |
| Delaware | $33,810 | $31,200 | $45,670 | 90 | 1.59 |
| District of Columbia | $38,200 | $38,200 | $66,440 | ||
| Florida | $36,870 | $30,350 | $61,860 | 1,090 | 0.91 |
| Georgia | $45,250 | $29,880 | $79,620 | 800 | 1.35 |
| Idaho | $40,770 | $30,530 | $44,200 | 180 | 1.72 |
| Illinois | $45,830 | $31,570 | $72,810 | 680 | 0.92 |
| Indiana | $45,270 | $32,100 | $86,840 | 380 | 0.98 |
| Iowa | $43,020 | $31,070 | $83,860 | 180 | 0.97 |
| Kansas | $34,720 | $28,600 | $52,240 | 250 | 1.44 |
| Kentucky | $34,030 | $23,460 | $60,000 | 470 | 1.94 |
| Louisiana | $32,720 | $20,840 | $44,160 | ||
| Maine | $40,760 | $37,080 | $48,230 | 110 | 1.44 |
| Maryland | $37,430 | $31,270 | $73,530 | 890 | 2.67 |
| Massachusetts | $43,580 | $33,670 | $82,810 | 510 | 1.17 |
| Michigan | $30,820 | $27,370 | $43,360 | 800 | 1.5 |
| Minnesota | $41,690 | $34,190 | $62,820 | 300 | 0.84 |
| Mississippi | $35,130 | $31,290 | $77,990 | 40 | 0.3 |
| Missouri | $34,010 | $30,390 | $53,580 | 250 | 0.7 |
| Montana | $44,680 | $33,060 | $57,860 | 80 | 1.26 |
| Nebraska | $34,900 | $33,220 | $49,070 | 60 | 0.52 |
| Nevada | $36,760 | $26,780 | $48,880 | 170 | 0.93 |
| New Hampshire | $38,030 | $21,430 | $57,840 | 140 | 1.68 |
| New Jersey | $46,690 | $35,860 | $103,370 | 480 | 0.92 |
| New Mexico | $34,760 | $29,710 | $41,350 | 60 | 0.54 |
| New York | $48,790 | $35,400 | $71,510 | 970 | 0.83 |
| North Carolina | $37,680 | $24,680 | $84,750 | 640 | 1.07 |
| North Dakota | $38,970 | $30,060 | $42,040 | 30 | 0.62 |
| Ohio | $32,700 | $27,640 | $65,330 | 730 | 1.08 |
| Oklahoma | $40,310 | $28,360 | $79,990 | 250 | 1.21 |
| Oregon | $55,520 | $36,310 | $86,120 | 140 | 0.6 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,920 | $31,410 | $58,670 | 460 | 0.63 |
| South Carolina | $29,670 | $27,040 | $43,280 | 200 | 0.71 |
| South Dakota | $38,120 | $30,530 | $44,780 | 30 | 0.62 |
| Tennessee | $35,320 | $27,650 | $56,450 | 310 | 0.77 |
| Texas | $36,370 | $25,970 | $57,490 | 1,080 | 0.64 |
| Utah | $38,580 | $24,580 | $49,870 | 260 | 1.24 |
| Virginia | $62,960 | $35,270 | $122,170 | 720 | 1.45 |
| Washington | $46,420 | $37,490 | $58,780 | 360 | 0.84 |
| West Virginia | $37,080 | $29,510 | $76,750 | 100 | 1.15 |
| Wisconsin | $37,140 | $29,420 | $62,810 | 480 | 1.35 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for animal trainers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 38.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for animal trainers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Animal Training CIP 01.0505
- Equestrian/Equine Studies CIP 01.0507
- Anthrozoology CIP 30.3401
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Cue or signal animals during performances.
- Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
- Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
- Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
- Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
- Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
- Administer prescribed medications to animals.
- Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
Technology skills
- Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
- Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Customer information control system CICS
- Database software
- Tracks Software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Agility Instructor, Dog Obedience Instructor, Dog Trainer, Guide Dog Instructor, Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI), Guide Dog Trainer, Horse Trainer, Racehorse Trainer, Service Dog Trainer, Trainer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do animal trainers make?
The national median annual wage for animal trainers was $39,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,600 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $75,490. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do animal trainers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is animal trainers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of animal trainers to change +4.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay animal trainers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Virginia ($62,960), Alabama ($55,700), Oregon ($55,520). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.