Animal Trainers Salary
The median pay for a animal trainers in Delaware is $33,810/year ($16.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $34,673 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,448/month, about 62% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $34K get you in Delaware?
About animal trainers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Delaware
Pay for animal trainers in Delaware runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,448/month, which is 62.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for animal trainerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level animal trainers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track animal trainers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Frequently asked questions
Can a animal trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 62.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal trainers in Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal trainers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is animal trainer a high-paying job in Delaware?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $34K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for animal trainers?
Delaware pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do animal trainers make in Delaware?
The median is $33,810 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced animal trainers can clear $45,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,325/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 62.3% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal trainers salary is worth about $34,673 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.