Veterinary25% remote-eligible+4.5% YoY growth

Animal Behaviorist Salary
by City (2026)

Study and modify animal behavior for research, therapy, and training applications. National median: $62K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$62K

Top 10% earn

$115K

Entry level

$45K

Salary growth

+4.5%/yr

Animal Behaviorist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$63K	$87K	$119K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$61K	$84K	$115K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$60K	$82K	$113K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$59K	$82K	$112K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$59K	$82K	$112K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$59K	$81K	$111K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$59K	$81K	$111K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$59K	$81K	$111K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$58K	$80K	$109K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$57K	$79K	$108K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$56K	$78K	$106K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$56K	$78K	$106K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$56K	$77K	$106K	165	6.85%
Kirkland, WA	$56K	$77K	$105K	162	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$56K	$77K	$106K	165	5.75%
San Diego, CA	$55K	$76K	$104K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$55K	$76K	$104K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$55K	$76K	$104K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$55K	$76K	$104K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$55K	$75K	$103K	155	11%
Anaheim, CA	$53K	$74K	$101K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$54K	$74K	$102K	150	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$54K	$74K	$102K	148	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$53K	$74K	$101K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$54K	$74K	$102K	192	11%
Long Beach, CA	$53K	$73K	$100K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$53K	$73K	$100K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$53K	$73K	$100K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$53K	$73K	$100K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$53K	$73K	$100K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$53K	$73K	$100K	128	None ✓
Paterson, NJ	$52K	$72K	$99K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$52K	$71K	$98K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$52K	$71K	$98K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$52K	$71K	$98K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$52K	$71K	$98K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$52K	$71K	$98K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$52K	$71K	$98K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$50K	$69K	$95K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$50K	$69K	$95K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$50K	$69K	$95K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$50K	$68K	$94K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$50K	$68K	$94K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$50K	$68K	$94K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$50K	$68K	$94K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$49K	$68K	$93K	122	6.99%
Houston, TX	$49K	$67K	$92K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$49K	$67K	$92K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$49K	$67K	$92K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$49K	$67K	$92K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$49K	$67K	$92K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$49K	$67K	$92K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$49K	$67K	$92K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$49K	$67K	$92K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$48K	$66K	$90K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$48K	$66K	$90K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$48K	$66K	$90K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	4.55%
Cary, NC	$48K	$66K	$90K	112	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$48K	$66K	$91K	115	5.99%
Austin, TX	$47K	$65K	$89K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$47K	$65K	$89K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$47K	$65K	$89K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$47K	$65K	$89K	108	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$47K	$65K	$89K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$47K	$65K	$89K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$47K	$65K	$89K	118	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$47K	$65K	$89K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$47K	$65K	$89K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$47K	$65K	$89K	108	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$47K	$65K	$89K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$47K	$65K	$89K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$47K	$65K	$89K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$47K	$65K	$89K	105	4.85%
Boise, ID	$47K	$65K	$89K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$47K	$65K	$89K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$46K	$64K	$88K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$46K	$64K	$88K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$46K	$64K	$88K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$46K	$64K	$88K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$46K	$64K	$88K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$46K	$63K	$87K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$46K	$63K	$87K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$46K	$63K	$87K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$46K	$63K	$87K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$46K	$63K	$87K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$46K	$63K	$87K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$46K	$63K	$87K	100	4.75%
Rochester, MN	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$46K	$63K	$87K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$46K	$63K	$86K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$45K	$62K	$85K	95	9.3%
Albany, NY	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$45K	$62K	$85K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$45K	$62K	$85K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$45K	$62K	$85K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$45K	$62K	$85K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$45K	$62K	$85K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$45K	$62K	$85K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$45K	$62K	$85K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$45K	$62K	$85K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$45K	$62K	$85K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$45K	$62K	$85K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$45K	$62K	$85K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$45K	$62K	$85K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$45K	$62K	$85K	95	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$45K	$62K	$86K	98	7.15%
Grand Prairie, TX	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$44K	$61K	$84K	92	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$44K	$61K	$83K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$44K	$61K	$83K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$44K	$61K	$83K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$44K	$61K	$83K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$44K	$61K	$84K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$44K	$61K	$83K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$44K	$61K	$84K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$44K	$61K	$83K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$44K	$61K	$84K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$44K	$61K	$84K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$43K	$60K	$82K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$43K	$60K	$82K	102	4.55%
Greensboro, NC	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$43K	$60K	$82K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$43K	$60K	$82K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$43K	$60K	$82K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$43K	$60K	$82K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$43K	$60K	$82K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	5%
Lexington, KY	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	5%
Lafayette, LA	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$44K	$60K	$83K	88	None ✓
Fayetteville, AR	$43K	$60K	$82K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$43K	$59K	$81K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$43K	$59K	$81K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$43K	$59K	$81K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$43K	$59K	$81K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$43K	$59K	$81K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$43K	$59K	$81K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$43K	$59K	$81K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$42K	$58K	$79K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$42K	$58K	$79K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$42K	$58K	$79K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$42K	$58K	$79K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$42K	$58K	$79K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$42K	$58K	$80K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$42K	$58K	$79K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$41K	$57K	$78K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$42K	$57K	$79K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$41K	$57K	$78K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$41K	$57K	$78K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$41K	$57K	$78K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$41K	$57K	$78K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$41K	$57K	$78K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$41K	$57K	$78K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$41K	$57K	$78K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$41K	$57K	$78K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$41K	$57K	$78K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$42K	$57K	$79K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$42K	$57K	$79K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$41K	$56K	$77K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$41K	$56K	$77K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$41K	$56K	$77K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$41K	$56K	$77K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$40K	$55K	$75K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$40K	$55K	$75K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $62K Animal Behaviorist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Animal Behaviorist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Animal Behaviorist is $62,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $45,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $85,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Animal Behaviorists nationally earn $115,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's or PhD in Animal Behavior; CAAB certification. This role is 25% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Animal Behaviorist compensation is growing at 4.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Animal Behaviorist salary FAQ

How much does a Animal Behaviorist make?

The median Animal Behaviorist salary in the US is $62,000 per year — about $30/hour. Most earn between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $85,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Animal Behaviorist?

Entry-level Animal Behaviorist positions typically start around $45,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Animal Behaviorists earn?

The top 10% of Animal Behaviorists earn $115,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Animal Behaviorists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Animal Behaviorist salary at $87K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Animal Behaviorist salaries going up?

Yes — Animal Behaviorist pay is growing about 4.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Animal Behaviorist Salaryby City (2026)