Animal Trainers pay range in Bellingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,900 or more. The middle half of animal trainers in Bellingham earn between $38,940 and $49,150.
- $39K10th
- $39K25th
- $41KMedian
- $49K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,410 | $3,701 | $21.35 |
| Median | $40,540 | $3,378 | $19.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,940 | $3,245 | $18.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,150 | $4,096 | $23.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Trainers pay in Bellingham vs. Washington and the U.S.
Animal trainers in Bellingham earn 9% less than the Washington average ($48,960) and 6% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $44,410 | $40,540 | $38,940 | $55,900 | 30 |
| Washington | $48,960 | $46,420 | $37,490 | $58,780 | 360 |
| 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 Bellingham
On the average salary of $44,410, a single filer in Bellingham takes home about $37,863 a year, or $3,155 a month and $1,456 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Bellingham a good place for animal trainers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bellingham area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $44,410 buys what about $42,977 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Bellingham ($57,820). A typical home costs $620,829, or 14.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Trainers salary in other Washington cities
Bellingham ranks 2nd of 2 Washington metro areas for this job; Seattle pays the most ($50,870).
- Seattle$50,870
- Bellingham$44,410
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 Bellingham: questions
How much do animal trainers make an hour in Bellingham?
$21.35 an hour on average, and $19.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal trainers salary in Bellingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal trainers take-home pay in Bellingham?
About $37,863 a year ($3,155 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,410. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do animal trainers earn more in Bellingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Bellingham, WA (13380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.8%.
- 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. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.81, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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