Animal Trainers Salary
The median pay for a animal trainers in South Dakota is $38,120/year ($18.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $42,407 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 37.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $38K get you in South Dakota?
About animal trainers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Animal trainers pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,017/month, which is 37.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level animal trainers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $45K 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 South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 37.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal trainers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal trainers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,832/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for animal trainers?
South Dakota pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal trainers make in South Dakota?
The median is $38,120 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,530, and experienced animal trainers can clear $44,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,722/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 37.4% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $42,407 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.