Animal Trainers Salary
The median pay for a animal trainers in Boulder, CO is $46,510/year ($22.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $47K actually covers in Boulder, month by month
About animal trainers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for animal trainers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $44K | , |
| Oklahoma City | $40K | $44K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $40K | $39K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level animal trainers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $8K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Trainers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Animal Trainers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $63K | +57% | 720 |
| Alabama | $56K | +39% | 170 |
| Oregon | $56K | +39% | 140 |
| California | $49K | +23% | 2,270 |
| New York | $49K | +22% | 970 |
| New Jersey | $47K | +17% | 480 |
| Washington | $46K | +16% | 360 |
| Illinois | $46K | +15% | 680 |
| Connecticut | $46K | +15% | 290 |
| Indiana | $45K | +13% | 380 |
| Georgia | $45K | +13% | 800 |
| Montana | $45K | +12% | 80 |
| Colorado | $44K | +11% | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $44K | +9% | 510 |
| Iowa | $43K | +8% | 180 |
| Minnesota | $42K | +4% | 300 |
| Idaho | $41K | +2% | 180 |
| Maine | $41K | +2% | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | +1% | 250 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -1% | 110 |
| North Dakota | $39K | -3% | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $39K | -3% | 460 |
| Utah | $39K | -4% | 260 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | -4% | N/A |
| South Dakota | $38K | -5% | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $38K | -5% | 140 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -6% | 640 |
| Maryland | $37K | -6% | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -7% | 480 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -7% | 100 |
| Florida | $37K | -8% | 1,090 |
| Nevada | $37K | -8% | 170 |
| Texas | $36K | -9% | 1,080 |
| Tennessee | $35K | -12% | 310 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -12% | 40 |
| Alaska | $35K | -13% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $35K | -13% | 60 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -13% | 60 |
| Kansas | $35K | -13% | 250 |
| Kentucky | $34K | -15% | 470 |
| Missouri | $34K | -15% | 250 |
| Delaware | $34K | -15% | 90 |
| Arizona | $33K | -17% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $33K | -18% | N/A |
| Ohio | $33K | -18% | 730 |
| Michigan | $31K | -23% | 800 |
| South Carolina | $30K | -26% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track animal trainers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a animal trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 36.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal trainers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal trainers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,640/month.
Is animal trainer a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $47K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for animal trainers?
Boulder pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +16%.
How much do animal trainers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $46,510 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,030, and experienced animal trainers can clear $47,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,114/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 36.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a animal trainers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal trainers salary is worth about $46,510 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do animal trainers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.