Animal Trainers pay in California
$55,570avg. a year
$26.71 an hour · 2,270 employed
Animal Trainers in California earn an average of $55,570 a year. That is $8,550 (18%) more than the U.S. average of $47,020. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $65,520.
$49,060Median pay
$26.71Average hourly
+22%Avg. pay since 2020
#5Of 46 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for animal trainers by metro area. Swipe to see all 11.
1300 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$65,520
$31.50 an hour
2
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$62,820
$30.20 an hour
360 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$59,370
$28.54 an hour
480 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$57,670
$27.73 an hour
5830 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$56,310
$27.07 an hour
6110 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$56,150
$27.00 an hour
770 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$52,180
$25.09 an hour
8230 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$49,590
$23.84 an hour
930 jobs
Fresno, CA
$48,530
$23.33 an hour
1040 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$47,510
$22.84 an hour
11200 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$46,240
$22.23 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Animal Trainers pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California animal trainers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $38k$38k–$42k$42k–$49k$49k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| California | $55,570 | $26.71 |
| Oregon | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| Nevada | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| Arizona | $35,430 | $17.04 |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do animal trainers make in California?
The average is $55,570 a year, and the median is $49,060. That is $8,550 (18%) more than the U.S. average of $47,020.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$26.71 an hour on average; the median is $23.59.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($65,520), followed by Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($62,820). The lowest average among 11 metro areas with data is Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($46,240).
How does California rank?
California ranks #5 of 47 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 39-2011. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national animal trainers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.