Animal Trainers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,070 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Rochester earn between $36,090 and $57,520.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $45KMedian
- $58K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,750 | $3,896 | $22.48 |
| Median | $44,760 | $3,730 | $21.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,520 | $4,793 | $27.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Rochester earn 10% less than the New York average ($52,060) and about the same as the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $46,750 | $44,760 | $32,240 | $61,070 | 40 |
| New York | $52,060 | $48,790 | $35,400 | $71,510 | 970 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $46,750, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $37,777 a year, or $3,148 a month and $1,453 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $46,750 buys what about $48,178 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 4th of 5 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($58,400).
- New York$58,400
- Kiryas Joel$49,520
- Albany$47,070
- Rochester$46,750
- Buffalo$44,050
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 Rochester: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Rochester?
$22.48 an hour on average, and $21.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $37,777 a year ($3,148 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,750. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do animal trainers earn more in Rochester 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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