Animal Trainers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $51,540 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Columbia earn between $29,080 and $36,790.
- $29K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $37K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,720 | $2,810 | $16.21 |
| Median | $29,670 | $2,472 | $14.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,080 | $2,423 | $13.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,790 | $3,066 | $17.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($33,580) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $33,720 | $29,670 | $29,070 | $51,540 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $33,580 | $29,670 | $27,040 | $43,280 | 200 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $33,720, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $28,901 a year, or $2,408 a month and $1,112 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $33,720 buys what about $36,002 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 2 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($34,040).
- Greenville$34,040
- Columbia$33,720
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 Columbia: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Columbia?
$16.21 an hour on average, and $14.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $28,901 a year ($2,408 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,720.
Do animal trainers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.9%.
- 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).
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