Animal Trainers pay range in Riverside
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,270 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Riverside earn between $38,920 and $46,340.
- $36K10th
- $39K25th
- $43KMedian
- $46K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,240 | $3,853 | $22.23 |
| Median | $43,070 | $3,589 | $20.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,920 | $3,243 | $18.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,340 | $3,862 | $22.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Riverside vs. California and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Riverside earn 17% less than the California average ($55,570) and about the same as the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $46,240 | $43,070 | $35,960 | $59,270 | 200 |
| California | $55,570 | $49,060 | $37,300 | $78,770 | 2,270 |
| United States | $47,020 | $39,990 | $29,600 | $75,490 | 18,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Animal Trainers salary after taxes in Riverside
On the average salary of $46,240, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $38,349 a year, or $3,196 a month and $1,475 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Riverside a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $46,240 buys what about $43,441 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other California cities
Riverside ranks 11th of 11 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($65,520).
- San Francisco$65,520
- Santa Maria$62,820
- Santa Rosa$59,370
- San Jose$57,670
- Los Angeles$56,310
- Sacramento$56,150
- Oxnard$52,180
- San Diego$49,590
- Fresno$48,530
- Riverside$46,240
Highest-paying cities for animal trainers
Virginia Beach, VA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($76,380).
- Virginia Beach, VA$76,380
- Washington, DC$68,840
- Colorado Springs, CO$68,260
- San Francisco, CA$65,520
- Santa Maria, CA$62,820
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Animal Trainers salary in Riverside: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Riverside?
$22.23 an hour on average, and $20.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Riverside?
About $38,349 a year ($3,196 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do animal trainers earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($47,020).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-2011; area Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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