Animal Trainers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,680 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Knoxville earn between $27,650 and $37,740.
- $28K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $38K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,350 | $2,946 | $17.00 |
| Median | $30,530 | $2,544 | $14.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,650 | $2,304 | $13.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,740 | $3,145 | $18.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Knoxville earn 9% less than the Tennessee average ($38,750) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $35,350 | $30,530 | $27,650 | $44,680 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $38,750 | $35,320 | $27,650 | $56,450 | 310 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $35,350, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $30,584 a year, or $2,549 a month and $1,176 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $35,350 buys what about $38,188 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd of 2 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($40,280).
- Nashville$40,280
- Knoxville$35,350
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Knoxville?
$16.99 an hour on average, and $14.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $30,584 a year ($2,549 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,350. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do animal trainers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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