Animal Trainers pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,700 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Madison earn between $36,660 and $62,810.
- $34K10th
- $37K25th
- $41KMedian
- $63K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,620 | $4,218 | $24.34 |
| Median | $41,130 | $3,428 | $19.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,660 | $3,055 | $17.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,810 | $5,234 | $30.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Madison earn 21% more than the Wisconsin average ($41,790) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $50,620 | $41,130 | $33,500 | $80,700 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $41,790 | $37,140 | $29,420 | $62,810 | 480 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $50,620, a single filer in Madison takes home about $41,246 a year, or $3,437 a month and $1,586 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 Madison a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $50,620 buys what about $52,032 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 3 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Madison: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Madison?
$24.34 an hour on average, and $19.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Madison?
About $41,246 a year ($3,437 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,620.
Do animal trainers earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.3%.
- 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 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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