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Animal Trainer Salary in the United States

How much does an Animal Trainer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Animal Trainer in the United States is $31,386 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.

However, an Animal Trainer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $35,603
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $28,777 to $33,594
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,402
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Animal Trainer Salaries

An Animal Trainer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Animal Trainer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Animal Trainers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $34,751.
  • California: $34,619.
  • Massachusetts: $34,158.

Top Paying Cities for Animal Trainers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $39,588
  • San Francisco: $39,154
  • Oakland: $38,329

What Skills Can Increase an Animal Trainer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.58% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Point of Sale Systems (Mentioned in 5.37% Job Postings): Simply put, a POS system is made up of hardware and software that works together to process sales and payment transactions at the point of purchase.
  • Barcode (Mentioned in 3.05% Job Postings): A bar code is the small image of lines (bars) and spaces that is affixed to retail store items, identification cards, and postal mail to identify a particular product number, person, or location.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.58%
Point of Sale Systems 5.37%
Barcode 3.05%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Animal Trainer's salary.

  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Confidentiality: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment $32,956
5%
Confidentiality $32,642
4%
Problem Solving $32,642
4%
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Animal Trainer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Animal Trainer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Hospitality & Leisure, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Animal Trainer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Animal Trainer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Animal Trainer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$34,525$17.010%
Healthcare$32,956$16.05%

How Education impacts an Animal Trainer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Animal Trainers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Animal Trainer with a No Diploma is between $33,667 and $35,488).

Animal Trainer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Animal Trainer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 12.9%
High School 58.4%
Associates 7.9%
Bachelors 20.2%
Masters 0.6%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Animal Trainer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Animal Trainer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$28,777
Average $31,386/year
$33,594
$2,398
Average $2,616/month
$2,799
$553
Average $604/week
$646
$14
Average $15/hour
$16
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $33,594 $2,799 $646 $16
Average $31,386 $2,616 $604 $15
25th Percentile $28,777 $2,398 $553 $14

Most common benefits for Animal Trainer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Animal Trainer

Here are companies hiring for Animal Trainer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Animal Trainer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Animal Trainer?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Animal Trainer roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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