Animal Trainers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,610 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Durham earn between $34,770 and $63,680.
- $26K10th
- $35K25th
- $40KMedian
- $64K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,970 | $4,164 | $24.02 |
| Median | $39,560 | $3,297 | $19.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,770 | $2,898 | $16.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,680 | $5,307 | $30.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Durham earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($47,600) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $49,970 | $39,560 | $25,870 | $85,610 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $47,600 | $37,680 | $24,680 | $84,750 | 640 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $49,970, a single filer in Durham takes home about $40,846 a year, or $3,404 a month and $1,571 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $49,970 buys what about $51,213 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 5 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($58,310).
- Raleigh$58,310
- Durham$49,970
- Charlotte$45,640
- Asheville$44,600
- Wilmington$40,790
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 Durham: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Durham?
$24.02 an hour on average, and $19.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Durham?
About $40,846 a year ($3,404 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,970.
Do animal trainers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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