Animal Trainers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,750 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Raleigh earn between $37,440 and $84,750.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $56KMedian
- $85K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,310 | $4,859 | $28.03 |
| Median | $55,560 | $4,630 | $26.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,750 | $7,062 | $40.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Raleigh earn 22% more than the North Carolina average ($47,600) and 24% more than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $58,310 | $55,560 | $32,030 | $84,750 | 160 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $58,310, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $47,214 a year, or $3,935 a month and $1,816 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $58,310 buys what about $59,405 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 1st of 5 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Raleigh?
$28.04 an hour on average, and $26.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $47,214 a year ($3,935 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,310.
Do animal trainers earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% more 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.6%.
- 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 1.82, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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