SOC 39-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Trainers — Columbia
Columbia, SC · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay in Columbia, SC is $29,670 a year, 25.8% under the national median of $39,990 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Columbia, SC is $29,670 a year, 25.8% under the national median of $39,990 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $29,080 and $36,790. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $29,070 and the ninetieth at $51,540.
Greenville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $32,760. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 486th of 511 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,070 | −27.3% |
| 25th | $29,080 | −27.3% |
| Median (50th) | $29,670 | −25.8% |
| 75th | $36,790 | −8.0% |
| 90th | $51,540 | +28.9% |
| Mean | $33,720 | −15.7% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | $32,760 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $29,670 goes as far as $31,665 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 20.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,665US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,670 a year, 25.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,070 to $51,540 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Greenville, at $32,760.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Trainers in Columbia, SC?
The median annual wage is $29,670, or $14.27 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 Columbia, SC is 25.8% lower. 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 Columbia, SC earns more than $51,540 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,070 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 Greenville, at $32,760 per year.
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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