39
Animal Trainers is a notable career in the 39 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Animal Trainers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 39-2011 |
| title | Animal Trainers |
| onet code | 39-2011.00 |
| description | Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact, and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 39 |
| tot emp | 20,110 |
| a mean | 45,780 |
| a median | 38,750 |
| a pct10 | 29,120 |
| a pct25 | 32,870 |
| a pct75 | 48,900 |
| a pct90 | 70,800 |
| h mean | 22 |
| h median | 18 |
The day-to-day work of a animal trainers typically centers on cue or signal animals during performances. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Speaking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.27 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working animal trainers, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (44.4%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Hawaii at $72,080 and lowest in Kentucky at $29,520 — a 2.4× spread. The top five states (Hawaii, Alabama, Oregon, California, Maryland) average $54,484. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $72,080 | $59,320 | $33,110 | $77,780 | 90 |
| Alabama | $58,480 | $52,820 | $30,250 | $69,620 | 220 |
| Oregon | $48,690 | $49,680 | $33,130 | $66,560 | 230 |
| California | $46,780 | $56,800 | $36,490 | $84,250 | 2,470 |
| Maryland | $46,390 | $53,470 | $31,510 | $77,120 | 600 |
| New York | $45,470 | $51,470 | $34,600 | $90,930 | 1,320 |
| Iowa | $45,180 | $44,350 | $31,060 | $55,150 | 120 |
| Colorado | $43,670 | $49,800 | $34,300 | $104,000 | 280 |
| Connecticut | $43,240 | $49,390 | $34,930 | $66,120 | 380 |
| Washington | $42,810 | $49,560 | $35,520 | $59,040 | 570 |
| Montana | $42,730 | $43,900 | $33,350 | $56,830 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $42,460 | $46,400 | $28,680 | $60,980 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $42,010 | $58,670 | $34,870 | $82,440 | 340 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,600 | $44,310 | $30,990 | $59,210 | 630 |
| North Carolina | $40,860 | $46,960 | $24,960 | $80,820 | 740 |
| Wisconsin | $40,360 | $44,520 | $29,920 | $62,620 | 420 |
| South Dakota | $39,380 | $39,040 | $29,120 | $50,530 | 60 |
| Indiana | $38,530 | $42,940 | $29,830 | $62,590 | 560 |
| Georgia | $38,130 | $39,760 | $28,230 | $47,840 | 790 |
| Maine | $37,990 | $40,220 | $34,190 | $56,060 | 50 |
| West Virginia | $37,970 | $46,440 | $28,950 | $73,430 | 150 |
| North Dakota | $37,430 | $39,770 | $30,370 | $67,180 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $37,250 | $46,000 | $30,760 | $86,450 | 310 |
| District of Columbia | $36,540 | $39,240 | $36,310 | $48,310 | — |
| New Hampshire | $36,410 | $39,670 | $26,840 | $57,140 | 140 |
| Idaho | $36,360 | $36,810 | $31,200 | $42,710 | 130 |
| Florida | $36,190 | $42,750 | $25,370 | $71,990 | 1,570 |
| Nevada | $36,060 | $37,790 | $28,720 | $46,750 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $35,530 | $38,750 | $31,510 | $48,360 | 520 |
| Utah | $35,380 | $34,270 | $21,060 | $49,850 | 260 |
| Kansas | $35,360 | $37,640 | $25,250 | $50,010 | 230 |
| Mississippi | $35,240 | $39,430 | $30,310 | $52,610 | 50 |
| Illinois | $34,560 | $38,180 | $29,650 | $52,710 | 550 |
| Delaware | $34,510 | $39,120 | $29,470 | $56,840 | 90 |
| Nebraska | $34,500 | $35,910 | $31,800 | $45,200 | 80 |
| Michigan | $34,100 | $36,140 | $23,190 | $51,500 | 590 |
| Alaska | $33,600 | $35,550 | $29,630 | $42,000 | 80 |
| Texas | $33,290 | $34,810 | $18,240 | $52,590 | 790 |
| Oklahoma | $33,120 | $40,930 | $20,850 | $69,260 | 170 |
| Ohio | $32,960 | $38,160 | $26,380 | $60,770 | 970 |
| Arizona | $32,230 | $37,170 | $30,400 | $54,070 | 710 |
| South Carolina | $31,620 | $38,780 | $21,560 | $62,140 | 190 |
| Louisiana | $31,520 | $34,260 | $28,290 | $46,520 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $31,510 | $38,250 | $29,420 | $47,950 | 100 |
| Missouri | $30,700 | $37,230 | $25,580 | $54,360 | 600 |
| Kentucky | $29,520 | $36,450 | $24,300 | $56,190 | 310 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for animal trainers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Agility Instructor or Animal Handler frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Animal Trainers compares to others in the 39 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Animal Trainers
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.