Animal Trainers Salary
The median pay for a animal trainers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $44,160/year ($21.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers.
So what does $44K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About animal trainers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for animal trainers in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $58K | , |
| Boulder | $47K | , |
| Tucson | $31K | $32K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $33K | $32K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level animal trainers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $27K 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
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track animal trainers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 68.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal trainers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,287/month.
Is animal trainer a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for animal trainers?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +10%.
How much do animal trainers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $44,160 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,120, and experienced animal trainers can clear $65,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,965/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 68.9% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 $44,160 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.