Animal Trainers pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,900 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Nashville earn between $29,580 and $46,720.
- $30K10th
- $30K25th
- $37KMedian
- $47K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,280 | $3,357 | $19.37 |
| Median | $36,860 | $3,072 | $17.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,580 | $2,465 | $14.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,720 | $3,893 | $22.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Nashville earn 4% more than the Tennessee average ($38,750) and 14% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $40,280 | $36,860 | $29,580 | $60,900 | n/a |
| Tennessee | $38,750 | $35,320 | $27,650 | $56,450 | 310 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $40,280, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $34,545 a year, or $2,879 a month and $1,329 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $40,280 buys what about $41,811 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 11.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 2 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Nashville$40,280
- Knoxville$35,350
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 Nashville: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Nashville?
$19.36 an hour on average, and $17.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Nashville?
About $34,545 a year ($2,879 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,280. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do animal trainers earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 15.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
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