Animal Trainers pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,000 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Lexington earn between $29,560 and $46,790.
- $26K10th
- $30K25th
- $34KMedian
- $47K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,990 | $3,499 | $20.19 |
| Median | $34,310 | $2,859 | $16.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,560 | $2,463 | $14.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,790 | $3,899 | $22.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($40,950) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $41,990 | $34,310 | $26,070 | $60,000 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $40,950 | $34,030 | $23,460 | $60,000 | 470 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $41,990, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $33,412 a year, or $2,784 a month and $1,285 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $41,990 buys what about $45,204 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lexington$41,990
- Louisville$41,430
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 Lexington: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Lexington?
$20.19 an hour on average, and $16.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Lexington?
About $33,412 a year ($2,784 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,990. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do animal trainers earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.82, this job is 5.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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