SOC 39-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Trainers — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $49,060 a year, ahead of the national median of $39,990 by 22.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $49,060 a year, ahead of the national median of $39,990 by 22.7%. Pay ranges from under $37,300 at the tenth percentile to more than $78,770 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,730 to $64,280.
The area has 2,270 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.03 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. California ranks number 4th out of 47 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Santa Maria records the highest median at $64,430. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 598th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,300 | −6.7% |
| 25th | $39,730 | −0.7% |
| Median (50th) | $49,060 | +22.7% |
| 75th | $64,280 | +60.7% |
| 90th | $78,770 | +97.0% |
| Mean | $55,570 | +39.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Maria | $64,430 | — | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $61,490 | 300 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $58,160 | 60 | |
| 4 | San Jose | $54,810 | 80 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $51,230 | 830 | |
| 6 | Oxnard | $50,420 | 70 | |
| 7 | San Diego | $49,150 | 230 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $44,170 | 110 | |
| 9 | Fresno | $43,620 | 30 | |
| 10 | Riverside | $43,070 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $49,060 buys what $44,318 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,318US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,060 a year, 22.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,300 to $78,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,270 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Maria, at $64,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Trainers in California?
The median annual wage is $49,060, or $23.59 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $39,990, so pay in California is 22.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $78,770 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,300 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Santa Maria, at $64,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,270 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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