Animal Trainers pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,050 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Wilmington earn between $31,440 and $44,770.
- $23K10th
- $31K25th
- $37KMedian
- $45K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,790 | $3,399 | $19.61 |
| Median | $37,080 | $3,090 | $17.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,440 | $2,620 | $15.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,770 | $3,731 | $21.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Wilmington earn 14% less than the North Carolina average ($47,600) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($47,020). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $39,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $40,790 | $37,080 | $23,250 | $45,050 | 50 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $40,790, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $33,836 a year, or $2,820 a month and $1,301 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 (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $40,790 buys what about $42,304 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 10.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 5th of 5 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($58,310).
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Wilmington?
$19.61 an hour on average, and $17.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $33,836 a year ($2,820 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,790.
Do animal trainers earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.2%.
- 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 1.98, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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