Animal Trainers pay range in Asheville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,560 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Asheville earn between $36,080 and $44,830.
- $26K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $45K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,600 | $3,717 | $21.44 |
| Median | $36,970 | $3,081 | $17.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,080 | $3,007 | $17.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,830 | $3,736 | $21.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Asheville vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Asheville earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($47,600) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $44,600 | $36,970 | $26,230 | $82,560 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $47,600 | $37,680 | $24,680 | $84,750 | 640 |
| United States | $47,020 | $39,990 | $29,600 | $75,490 | 18,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Animal Trainers salary after taxes in Asheville
On the average salary of $44,600, a single filer in Asheville takes home about $36,745 a year, or $3,062 a month and $1,413 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Asheville a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Asheville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.5), so the average $44,600 buys what about $46,215 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Asheville ($46,870). A typical home costs $428,742, or 9.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other North Carolina cities
Asheville ranks 4th of 5 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($58,310).
- Raleigh$58,310
- Durham$49,970
- Charlotte$45,640
- Asheville$44,600
- Wilmington$40,790
Highest-paying cities for animal trainers
Virginia Beach, VA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($76,380).
- Virginia Beach, VA$76,380
- Washington, DC$68,840
- Colorado Springs, CO$68,260
- San Francisco, CA$65,520
- Santa Maria, CA$62,820
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Animal Trainers salary in Asheville: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Asheville?
$21.44 an hour on average, and $17.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Asheville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Asheville?
About $36,745 a year ($3,062 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,600.
Do animal trainers earn more in Asheville than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($47,020).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-2011; area Asheville, NC (11700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.13, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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