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Animal Trainers in Maine

Considering working as an Animal Trainers in Maine? Here’s what you need to know. Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact, and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.

What do Animal Trainers Make in Maine?

The animal trainers working in Maine, wages run about $37,990 per year (or about $18.26/hour).Pay can range from $34,190 at the 10th percentile to $56,060 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$34,190	$16.44
25th percentile	$36,420	$17.51
Median (50th)	$37,990	$18.26
75th percentile	$41,320	$19.87
90th percentile	$56,060	$26.95

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Maine compared to the national average — is 0.65, indicating fewer animal trainers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, animal trainers earn a median of $32,987 per year ($15.86/hour), exceeding the Maine median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 182,029 animal trainers across the United States. In Maine alone, around 50 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 260 animal trainers.

Top Maine Metros for Animal Trainers

These are the Maine metros with the most animal trainers in Maine.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Portland-South Portland, ME	40	$38,200

Top States for Animal Trainers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most animal trainers work.

State	Number Employed
California	2,470
Florida	1,570
New York	1,320
Ohio	970
Georgia	790
Texas	790
North Carolina	740
Arizona	710
Pennsylvania	630
Virginia	620
Maryland	600
Missouri	600
Michigan	590
Washington	570
Indiana	560
Illinois	550
Minnesota	520
Wisconsin	420
Connecticut	380
New Jersey	340

Highest-Paying States for Animal Trainers

Where animal trainers earn the most: animal trainers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Hawaii	$72,080
Alabama	$58,480
Oregon	$48,690
California	$46,780
Maryland	$46,390
New York	$45,470
Iowa	$45,180
Colorado	$43,670
Connecticut	$43,240
Washington	$42,810

Skills

Top animal trainers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for animal trainers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Animal Trainers typically:

• Cue or signal animals during performances.
• Talk to or interact with animals to familiarize them to human voices or contact.
• Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
• Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
• Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
• Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
• Administer prescribed medications to animals.
• Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
• Evaluate animals for trainability and ability to perform.
• Advise animal owners regarding the purchase of specific animals.
• Train horses or other equines for riding, harness, show, racing, or other work, using knowledge of breed characteristics, training methods, performance standards, and the peculiarities of each animal.
• Use oral, spur, rein, or hand commands to condition horses to carry riders or to pull horse-drawn equipment.

Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Training and Teaching Others
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Thinking Creatively
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Getting Information
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Atlassian JIRA, Epic Systems

Related Careers

Careers similar to animal trainers include:

• Training and Development Managers
• Training and Development Specialists
• Animal Scientists
• Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
• Self-Enrichment Teachers
• Athletes and Sports Competitors

Also Known As

Agility Instructor, Animal Handler, Animal Trainer, Bronc Breaker, Bronc Buster, Canine Handler, Canine Service Teacher, Cat Groomer, Dog Groomer, Dog Handler, Dog Obedience Instructor, Dog Show Judge, Dog Trainer, Dolphin Trainer, Elephant Tamer.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-2011.00