Dog Trainer Salary by StateBLS figures for animal trainers (includes dog trainers), all industries
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 39-2011 Animal Trainers
Animal trainers (includes dog trainers, SOC 39-2011), the BLS occupation for dog trainers, earned a national median $39,990 a year ($19.22 an hour) across all industries in May 2025.
The middle half earned between $33,740 and $53,580.
In other personal services (NAICS 812900), the BLS industry that contains pet care services such as grooming, boarding and daycare, the median for animal trainers was $39,990 a year ($19.22 an hour); 48% of the occupation's payroll jobs are in that industry.
This is the BLS occupation for animal trainers (39-2011), all industries.
It also covers horse and marine-mammal trainers, and it counts payroll employees only, so self-employed trainers are not in it.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only and leaves out the self-employed, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across animal trainers
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| 25th | $33,740 | $16.22 |
| 50th (median) | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| 75th | $53,580 | $25.76 |
| 90th | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Mean (average) | $47,020 | $22.61 |
SOC 39-2011 Animal Trainers, the BLS occupation for dog trainers, national, all industries: 18,770 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
What the figure means for dog trainers
O*NET lists Dog Trainer, Dog Obedience Instructor, Agility Instructor and Service Dog Trainer among the reported job titles for animal trainers (SOC 39-2011), a separate occupation from animal caretakers.
The occupation also covers horse trainers and other animal trainers, so it is not a dog-only figure.
BLS says 39% of animal trainer jobs in 2025 were held by self-employed workers, the largest single group.
They are not in the OEWS wage figures.
BLS says certification is not required, though professional associations and trade schools offer certification for dog trainers.
Pay for animal trainers by State
Median annual wage for SOC 39-2011 Animal Trainers in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical.
BLS state figures cover every employer of the occupation in the state. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $39,990; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,700 | $26.78 | $33,950–$70,520 | 170 | +39% |
| Alaska | $34,900 | $16.78 | $34,900–$43,870 | 50 | −13% |
| Arizona | $33,330 | $16.02 | $31,250–$41,620 | Not published | −17% |
| Arkansas | $39,400 | $18.94 | $31,280–$59,260 | 110 | −1% |
| California | $49,060 | $23.59 | $37,300–$78,770 | 2,270 | +23% |
| Colorado | $44,290 | $21.29 | $36,420–$67,330 | 330 | +11% |
| Connecticut | $45,800 | $22.02 | $36,530–$68,580 | 290 | +15% |
| Delaware | $33,810 | $16.25 | $31,200–$45,670 | 90 | −15% |
| District of Columbia | $38,200 | $18.37 | $38,200–$66,440 | Not published | −4% |
| Florida | $36,870 | $17.72 | $30,350–$61,860 | 1,090 | −8% |
| Georgia | $45,250 | $21.76 | $29,880–$79,620 | 800 | +13% |
| Hawaii | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Idaho | $40,770 | $19.60 | $30,530–$44,200 | 180 | +2% |
| Illinois | $45,830 | $22.03 | $31,570–$72,810 | 680 | +15% |
| Indiana | $45,270 | $21.76 | $32,100–$86,840 | 380 | +13% |
| Iowa | $43,020 | $20.68 | $31,070–$83,860 | 180 | +8% |
| Kansas | $34,720 | $16.69 | $28,600–$52,240 | 250 | −13% |
| Kentucky | $34,030 | $16.36 | $23,460–$60,000 | 470 | −15% |
| Louisiana | $32,720 | $15.73 | $20,840–$44,160 | Not published | −18% |
| Maine | $40,760 | $19.60 | $37,080–$48,230 | 110 | +2% |
| Maryland | $37,430 | $18.00 | $31,270–$73,530 | 890 | −6% |
| Massachusetts | $43,580 | $20.95 | $33,670–$82,810 | 510 | +9% |
| Michigan | $30,820 | $14.82 | $27,370–$43,360 | 800 | −23% |
| Minnesota | $41,690 | $20.04 | $34,190–$62,820 | 300 | +4% |
| Mississippi | $35,130 | $16.89 | $31,290–$77,990 | 40 | −12% |
| Missouri | $34,010 | $16.35 | $30,390–$53,580 | 250 | −15% |
| Montana | $44,680 | $21.48 | $33,060–$57,860 | 80 | +12% |
| Nebraska | $34,900 | $16.78 | $33,220–$49,070 | 60 | −13% |
| Nevada | $36,760 | $17.67 | $26,780–$48,880 | 170 | −8% |
| New Hampshire | $38,030 | $18.28 | $21,430–$57,840 | 140 | −5% |
| New Jersey | $46,690 | $22.45 | $35,860–$103,370 | 480 | +17% |
| New Mexico | $34,760 | $16.71 | $29,710–$41,350 | 60 | −13% |
| New York | $48,790 | $23.46 | $35,400–$71,510 | 970 | +22% |
| North Carolina | $37,680 | $18.11 | $24,680–$84,750 | 640 | −6% |
| North Dakota | $38,970 | $18.73 | $30,060–$42,040 | 30 | −3% |
| Ohio | $32,700 | $15.72 | $27,640–$65,330 | 730 | −18% |
| Oklahoma | $40,310 | $19.38 | $28,360–$79,990 | 250 | +1% |
| Oregon | $55,520 | $26.69 | $36,310–$86,120 | 140 | +39% |
| Pennsylvania | $38,920 | $18.71 | $31,410–$58,670 | 460 | −3% |
| Rhode Island | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| South Carolina | $29,670 | $14.27 | $27,040–$43,280 | 200 | −26% |
| South Dakota | $38,120 | $18.33 | $30,530–$44,780 | 30 | −5% |
| Tennessee | $35,320 | $16.98 | $27,650–$56,450 | 310 | −12% |
| Texas | $36,370 | $17.49 | $25,970–$57,490 | 1,080 | −9% |
| Utah | $38,580 | $18.55 | $24,580–$49,870 | 260 | −4% |
| Vermont | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Virginia | $62,960 | $30.27 | $35,270–$122,170 | 720 | +57% |
| Washington | $46,420 | $22.32 | $37,490–$58,780 | 360 | +16% |
| West Virginia | $37,080 | $17.83 | $29,510–$76,750 | 100 | −7% |
| Wisconsin | $37,140 | $17.86 | $29,420–$62,810 | 480 | −7% |
| Wyoming | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
BLS does not publish this median for Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming. BLS suppresses estimates it cannot publish reliably; no figure is estimated for them here and they have no state page.
Pay by employer
National figures for animal trainers (includes dog trainers, SOC 39-2011): every employer, then other personal services, veterinary services and other miscellaneous retailers, BLS OEWS May 2025.
These are the industry cuts the vault holds for the occupation, labelled.
BLS publishes no wage figures for pet care services (NAICS 812910) or pet and pet supplies stores (459910) on their own, so no salon-only or pet-store-only figure exists.
Other personal services (812900) contains pet care services such as grooming, boarding and daycare, but also unrelated businesses such as parking lots and photofinishing.
Other miscellaneous retailers (459900) includes pet stores along with other retailers.
BLS industry estimates are national only.
| Employer | Median | Mean | Hourly median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All industries (every employer) | $39,990 | $47,020 | $19.22 | 18,770 |
| Other personal services (NAICS 812900, includes pet care services) | $39,990 | $45,800 | $19.22 | 9,090 |
| Veterinary services (NAICS 541940) | $39,260 | $44,400 | $18.88 | 160 |
| Other miscellaneous retailers (NAICS 459900, includes pet stores) | $36,240 | $36,870 | $17.42 | 3,320 |
Job outlook for animal trainers
BLS projects employment of animal trainers (includes dog trainers) to grow 4.2%, from about 47,800 in 2025 to 49,700 in 2035, with about 6,500 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
The projection counts every employer and includes the self-employed (38.7% of 2025 employment).
OEWS wage data count payroll jobs only (18,770 in May 2025), so the two job counts are different measures and are not directly comparable.
Pay by pet care role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Dog trainers have a BLS occupation of their own, animal trainers (39-2011), which also covers horse and other animal trainers.
Groomers, bathers, kennel and daycare attendants, shelter attendants, pet sitters and dog walkers are all counted as animal caretakers (39-2021), so their rows show the same figure, labelled.
For dog walkers it is only the closest available figure, because most walkers are self-employed and not counted.
| Role | Median, all industries | Median, other personal services (includes pet care) | What the number is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Groomer | $35,360 | $35,190 | Broader BLS occupation: animal caretakers (includes groomers), SOC 39-2021 |
| Dog Bather | $35,360 | $35,190 | Broader BLS occupation: animal caretakers (includes groomers), SOC 39-2021 |
| Kennel Attendant | $35,360 | $35,190 | Broader BLS occupation: animal caretakers (includes groomers), SOC 39-2021 |
| Dog Daycare Attendant | $35,360 | $35,190 | Broader BLS occupation: animal caretakers (includes groomers), SOC 39-2021 |
| Dog Trainer | $39,990 | $39,990 | BLS occupation: animal trainers (includes dog trainers), SOC 39-2011 |
| Dog Walker | $35,360 | $35,190 | Closest available occupation: animal caretakers (includes groomers), SOC 39-2021 |
| Pet Sitter | $35,360 | $35,190 | Broader BLS occupation: animal caretakers (includes groomers), SOC 39-2021 |
| Animal Care Attendant | $35,360 | $35,190 | Broader BLS occupation: animal caretakers (includes groomers), SOC 39-2021 |
Dog Trainer salary questions
01How much do dog trainers make a year?
The national median annual wage for animal trainers (includes dog trainers, SOC 39-2011), the BLS occupation for dog trainers, across all industries was $39,990 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
The 10th percentile was $29,600 and the 90th percentile $75,490.
02How much do dog trainers make an hour?
The national median hourly wage for animal trainers (includes dog trainers) was $19.22 in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $14.23 and the 90th at $36.29.
BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so these are the same figures per hour, before overtime.
03Which state pays dog trainers the most?
For animal trainers (includes dog trainers), counting every employer in the state, Virginia had the highest median in May 2025 at $62,960.
South Carolina had the lowest at $29,670.
These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average dog trainer salary?
The mean (average) annual wage for animal trainers (includes dog trainers) across all industries was $47,020 in May 2025, against a $39,990 median.
The median is the better guide to a typical salary, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up.
05What do pet care businesses, vet clinics and pet stores pay dog trainers?
BLS publishes no figure for pet care businesses alone.
In other personal services (NAICS 812900), the industry that contains pet care services, the median for animal trainers (includes dog trainers) was $39,990 in May 2025, against $39,990 across all industries.
In veterinary services (541940) it was $39,260.
In other miscellaneous retailers (459900), which includes pet stores, it was $36,240.
06Is demand for dog trainers growing?
BLS projects employment of animal trainers (includes dog trainers) to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 47,800 to 49,700 jobs, with about 6,500 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
Those projection counts include the self-employed (38.7% of 2025 employment), while OEWS wage data count payroll jobs only (18,770), so the two job counts are not the same measure.
07Is this a dog-trainer-only figure?
Not quite.
Dog trainers are counted as animal trainers (SOC 39-2011), which also covers horse and other animal trainers, so every figure on this page covers the whole occupation.
08Do these figures include self-employed trainers?
No. BLS OEWS wage data count payroll employees only, so self-employed trainers are not in these pay figures.
BLS Employment Projections put the self-employed share at 38.7% of 2025 employment.