Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, North Carolina
$49,500 / year
≈ $4,150 per month · $23.80 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for North Carolina · median $39,000
25th percentile
$35,000Average
$49,50075th percentile
$60,000
$35,000Average
$49,50075th percentile
$60,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Animal Trainer salary by state
Alabama$57,500
Alaska$37,500
Arizona$36,500
Arkansas$45,000
California$57,500
Colorado$52,000
Connecticut$54,000
Delaware$38,500
District of Columbia$45,000
Florida$43,500
Georgia$53,500
Idaho$40,000
Illinois$50,000
Indiana$56,500
Iowa$52,000
Kansas$39,000
Kentucky$42,500
Louisiana$34,000
Maine$43,500
Maryland$49,000
Massachusetts$51,000
Michigan$35,000
Minnesota$48,000
Mississippi$46,000
Missouri$40,500
Montana$46,000
Nebraska$39,000
Nevada$37,500
New Hampshire$41,000
New Jersey$64,500
New Mexico$36,000
New York$54,000
North Carolina$49,500
North Dakota$39,000
Ohio$40,500
Oklahoma$49,000
Oregon$59,500
Pennsylvania$43,500
South Carolina$35,000
South Dakota$39,500
Tennessee$40,000
Texas$41,000
Utah$40,500
Virginia$77,500
Washington$50,500
West Virginia$48,000
Wisconsin$43,500
About this role
Animal Trainer is a professional role within the function in the Personal Care and Service job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Animal Trainers do
Typical education: High School Diploma
- 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.
Top skills: Instructing Speaking Learning Strategies Critical Thinking Active Learning Monitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Animal Trainer pay by experience level
Entry level$30,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$35,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$41,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$55,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$78,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+5.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
7,100
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Animal Trainer salary by industry
Personal and Laundry Services
9,090 workers
$47,500Other Personal Services
9,090 workers
$47,500Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers
3,330 workers
$38,000Other Miscellaneous Retailers
3,320 workers
$38,000Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries
1,890 workers
$54,500Spectator Sports
1,780 workers
$53,500Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry
1,430 workers
$50,000Support Activities for Animal Production
1,430 workers
$50,000Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
570 workers
$61,500Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
430 workers
$52,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Animal Trainer pays 2% above the average across 33 roles in the Personal Care and Service job family (family average $47,500).
Similar-paying roles in Personal Care and Service
Barber$48,500
Crematory Operator$47,500
Tour and Travel Guides$45,000
Gambling Dealer$44,000
Motion Picture Projectionist$53,500
Careers related to Animal Trainer
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Animal Trainer make?
The average base salary for a Animal Trainer in the United States is $48,500 per year, or about $23.32 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $35,000 and $55,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Personal Care and Service roles?
The Personal Care and Service job family averages $47,500 across 33 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Put this data to work
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