39 Series · SOC 39-2021
Animal Caretakers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $35,360
- Median / year
- $50,060
- Top 10% earn
- +12.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 266,910
- US workers
Animal Caretakers earn a median of $35,360 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,360, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $27,250 (10th percentile) to $50,060 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 266,910 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($44,210), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Animal Caretakers earn a median of $35,360, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 3% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #25 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 12.1% by 2033.
- $35,360
- Median annual wage
- Top 97%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #25 of 32
- in Personal Care and Service
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $44,210. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Animal Caretakers (SOC 39-2021) pays a national median of $35,360 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $27,250 at the 10th percentile to $50,060 at the 90th, with a mean of $37,300 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 266,910 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 517 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +12.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 74,600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $44,210, which is +25% above the national figure. The top metro is High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area at $52,000 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 266,910 jobs Median $35,360/yr
Median Salary
$35,360
per year
Median Hourly
$17.00/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$37,300
average
Employment
266,910
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Animal Caretakers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$35,360 Bottom 3% higher than 3% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Animal Caretakers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 39-series occupations with growth data, Animal Caretakers sits on the faster-growing side at +12.1% growth and $35,360 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+12.1%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
74,600
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
2/100
Danger Index
8.8/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Animal Caretakers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Monitoring 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Listening 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Service Orientation 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0
Speaking 2.9
Writing 2.8
Critical Thinking 2.8
Social Perceptiveness 2.8
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 4.2
Administrative 3.1
English Language 3.1
Education and Training 2.6
Administration and Management 2.5
Psychology 2.5
Mathematics 2.5
Public Safety and Security 2.4
Chemistry 2.4
Biology 2.4
Key Tasks
- ▸ Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- ▸ Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
- ▸ Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
- ▸ Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
- ▸ Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
- ▸ Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
- ▸ Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
- ▸ Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals.
- ▸ Clean and disinfect surgical equipment.
- ▸ Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$27,250
25th Percentile
$29,820
Median
$35,360
75th Percentile
$40,050
90th Percentile
$50,060
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $44,210 | +25% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $40,570 | +15% above national |
| 3 | Hawaii | $40,130 | +13% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $39,650 | +12% above national |
| 5 | California | $38,700 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Arizona | $38,180 | +8% above national |
| 7 | New York | $37,840 | +7% above national |
| 8 | Colorado | $37,430 | +6% above national |
| 9 | Connecticut | $37,310 | +6% above national |
| 10 | Maine | $37,230 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $37,120 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Maryland | $36,780 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Alaska | $36,640 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $36,580 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,430 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Vermont | $36,090 | +2% above national |
| 17 | New Jersey | $35,850 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Illinois | $35,570 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Virgin Islands | $35,570 | +1% above national |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $34,790 | 2% below national |
| 21 | Utah | $34,750 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Virginia | $34,380 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Montana | $34,210 | 3% below national |
| 24 | Florida | $34,150 | 3% below national |
| 25 | North Dakota | $34,040 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Delaware | $33,910 | 4% below national |
| 27 | New Mexico | $33,570 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Texas | $32,730 | 7% below national |
| 29 | Idaho | $32,170 | 9% below national |
| 30 | Nebraska | $31,680 | 10% below national |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $31,360 | 11% below national |
| 32 | South Carolina | $31,280 | 12% below national |
| 33 | Missouri | $31,230 | 12% below national |
| 34 | North Carolina | $30,870 | 13% below national |
| 35 | Kentucky | $30,720 | 13% below national |
| 36 | Tennessee | $30,550 | 14% below national |
| 37 | South Dakota | $30,390 | 14% below national |
| 38 | Michigan | $30,320 | 14% below national |
| 39 | Nevada | $30,320 | 14% below national |
| 40 | Ohio | $30,310 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Arkansas | $30,230 | 15% below national |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $30,160 | 15% below national |
| 43 | Iowa | $30,080 | 15% below national |
| 44 | Indiana | $29,990 | 15% below national |
| 45 | Georgia | $29,860 | 16% below national |
| 46 | Kansas | $29,830 | 16% below national |
| 47 | Wyoming | $29,080 | 18% below national |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $28,940 | 18% below national |
| 49 | West Virginia | $28,550 | 19% below national |
| 50 | Alabama | $28,330 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Louisiana | $27,910 | 21% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $27,600 | 22% below national |
| 53 | Mississippi | $26,970 | 24% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 517 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $46,270 | +31% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,070 | +25% above national |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,060 | +25% above national |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,640 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Barnstable Town, MA | $43,540 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $42,110 | +19% above national |
| 8 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $42,070 | +19% above national |
| 9 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $41,330 | +17% above national |
| 10 | El Centro, CA | $40,880 | +16% above national |
| 11 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $39,870 | +13% above national |
| 12 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,870 | +13% above national |
| 13 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39,850 | +13% above national |
| 14 | Vallejo, CA | $39,520 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $39,100 | +11% above national |
| 16 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,030 | +10% above national |
| 17 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,840 | +10% above national |
| 18 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $38,810 | +10% above national |
| 19 | Napa, CA | $38,750 | +10% above national |
| 20 | Ames, IA | $38,700 | +9% above national |
| 21 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $38,580 | +9% above national |
| 22 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $38,550 | +9% above national |
| 23 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,520 | +9% above national |
| 24 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $38,410 | +9% above national |
| 25 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $38,340 | +8% above national |
| 26 | Modesto, CA | $38,320 | +8% above national |
| 27 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,280 | +8% above national |
| 28 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $38,180 | +8% above national |
| 29 | Flagstaff, AZ | $38,180 | +8% above national |
| 30 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $38,000 | +7% above national |
| 31 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $37,970 | +7% above national |
| 32 | Salinas, CA | $37,960 | +7% above national |
| 33 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,940 | +7% above national |
| 34 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $37,910 | +7% above national |
| 35 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,900 | +7% above national |
| 36 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $37,900 | +7% above national |
| 37 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,870 | +7% above national |
| 38 | Rochester, MN | $37,850 | +7% above national |
| 39 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $37,800 | +7% above national |
| 40 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $37,780 | +7% above national |
| 41 | Boulder, CO | $37,720 | +7% above national |
| 42 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,710 | +7% above national |
| 43 | Bellingham, WA | $37,650 | +6% above national |
| 44 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $37,650 | +6% above national |
| 45 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $37,640 | +6% above national |
| 46 | Worcester, MA | $37,590 | +6% above national |
| 47 | Bozeman, MT | $37,580 | +6% above national |
| 48 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $37,490 | +6% above national |
| 49 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $37,370 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,340 | +6% above national |
| 51 | Yuba City, CA | $37,300 | +5% above national |
| 52 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $37,300 | +5% above national |
| 53 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $37,290 | +5% above national |
| 54 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $37,240 | +5% above national |
| 55 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,120 | +5% above national |
| 56 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $37,110 | +5% above national |
| 57 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $37,080 | +5% above national |
| 58 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,050 | +5% above national |
| 59 | Ithaca, NY | $36,930 | +4% above national |
| 60 | Salem, OR | $36,920 | +4% above national |
| 61 | Redding, CA | $36,900 | +4% above national |
| 62 | Tucson, AZ | $36,870 | +4% above national |
| 63 | Pittsfield, MA | $36,830 | +4% above national |
| 64 | New Haven, CT | $36,790 | +4% above national |
| 65 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $36,790 | +4% above national |
| 66 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,780 | +4% above national |
| 67 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $36,690 | +4% above national |
| 68 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $36,670 | +4% above national |
| 69 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,660 | +4% above national |
| 70 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,620 | +4% above national |
| 71 | Springfield, MA | $36,570 | +3% above national |
| 72 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $36,500 | +3% above national |
| 73 | Anchorage, AK | $36,490 | +3% above national |
| 74 | Merced, CA | $36,480 | +3% above national |
| 75 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $36,470 | +3% above national |
| 76 | Fresno, CA | $36,430 | +3% above national |
| 77 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $36,360 | +3% above national |
| 78 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,320 | +3% above national |
| 79 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $36,270 | +3% above national |
| 80 | Visalia, CA | $36,150 | +2% above national |
| 81 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,110 | +2% above national |
| 82 | Corvallis, OR | $36,010 | +2% above national |
| 83 | Chico, CA | $35,990 | +2% above national |
| 84 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $35,920 | +2% above national |
| 85 | Glens Falls, NY | $35,890 | +1% above national |
| 86 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $35,860 | +1% above national |
| 87 | Bend, OR | $35,800 | +1% above national |
| 88 | Minot, ND | $35,780 | +1% above national |
| 89 | Greeley, CO | $35,760 | +1% above national |
| 90 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $35,740 | +1% above national |
| 91 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $35,740 | +1% above national |
| 92 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,730 | +1% above national |
| 93 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $35,720 | +1% above national |
| 94 | Medford, OR | $35,710 | +1% above national |
| 95 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $35,700 | +1% above national |
| 96 | Grants Pass, OR | $35,670 | +1% above national |
| 97 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $35,660 | +1% above national |
| 98 | Yakima, WA | $35,650 | +1% above national |
| 99 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $35,640 | +1% above national |
| 100 | Bangor, ME | $35,610 | +1% above national |
| 101 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $35,610 | +1% above national |
| 102 | Odessa, TX | $35,500 | same as national |
| 103 | Syracuse, NY | $35,500 | same as national |
| 104 | Abilene, TX | $35,480 | same as national |
| 105 | Utica-Rome, NY | $35,460 | same as national |
| 106 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,420 | same as national |
| 107 | St. Cloud, MN | $35,390 | same as national |
| 108 | Santa Fe, NM | $35,360 | same as national |
| 109 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | same as national |
| 110 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $35,290 | same as national |
| 111 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $35,260 | same as national |
| 112 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $35,230 | same as national |
| 113 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,220 | same as national |
| 114 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $35,220 | same as national |
| 115 | Charlottesville, VA | $35,190 | same as national |
| 116 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,170 | 1% below national |
| 117 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $35,160 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $35,110 | 1% below national |
| 119 | Yuma, AZ | $35,110 | 1% below national |
| 120 | Kingston, NY | $35,090 | 1% below national |
| 121 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $35,090 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $35,080 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $35,040 | 1% below national |
| 124 | St. George, UT | $35,040 | 1% below national |
| 125 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $35,000 | 1% below national |
| 126 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $35,000 | 1% below national |
| 127 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $34,970 | 1% below national |
| 128 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,970 | 1% below national |
| 129 | Rochester, NY | $34,950 | 1% below national |
| 130 | Ocala, FL | $34,930 | 1% below national |
| 131 | Duluth, MN-WI | $34,900 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Billings, MT | $34,890 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Albany, OR | $34,880 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $34,840 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $34,830 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $34,800 | 2% below national |
| 137 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $34,790 | 2% below national |
| 138 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $34,780 | 2% below national |
| 139 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $34,760 | 2% below national |
| 140 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $34,750 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,730 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Gainesville, FL | $34,680 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $34,600 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $34,590 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Pueblo, CO | $34,570 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $34,550 | 2% below national |
| 147 | Spartanburg, SC | $34,530 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $34,490 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,430 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Lexington Park, MD | $34,400 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $34,390 | 3% below national |
| 152 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $34,330 | 3% below national |
| 153 | Mankato, MN | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 154 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $34,310 | 3% below national |
| 155 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $34,300 | 3% below national |
| 156 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $34,290 | 3% below national |
| 157 | Elmira, NY | $34,280 | 3% below national |
| 158 | Grand Junction, CO | $34,270 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Bismarck, ND | $34,230 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $34,210 | 3% below national |
| 161 | Madison, WI | $34,160 | 3% below national |
| 162 | Springfield, IL | $34,160 | 3% below national |
| 163 | Fargo, ND-MN | $34,040 | 4% below national |
| 164 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $33,970 | 4% below national |
| 165 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $33,960 | 4% below national |
| 166 | Reno, NV | $33,950 | 4% below national |
| 167 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $33,920 | 4% below national |
| 168 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $33,910 | 4% below national |
| 169 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $33,900 | 4% below national |
| 170 | Binghamton, NY | $33,880 | 4% below national |
| 171 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $33,810 | 4% below national |
| 172 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $33,810 | 4% below national |
| 173 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $33,780 | 4% below national |
| 174 | Missoula, MT | $33,760 | 5% below national |
| 175 | Vineland, NJ | $33,760 | 5% below national |
| 176 | Richmond, VA | $33,710 | 5% below national |
| 177 | Midland, TX | $33,670 | 5% below national |
| 178 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $33,630 | 5% below national |
| 179 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,610 | 5% below national |
| 180 | Asheville, NC | $33,530 | 5% below national |
| 181 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,530 | 5% below national |
| 182 | Ann Arbor, MI | $33,520 | 5% below national |
| 183 | Boise City, ID | $33,510 | 5% below national |
| 184 | Iowa City, IA | $33,510 | 5% below national |
| 185 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $33,410 | 6% below national |
| 186 | Salisbury, MD | $33,380 | 6% below national |
| 187 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $33,280 | 6% below national |
| 188 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $33,280 | 6% below national |
| 189 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $33,220 | 6% below national |
| 190 | Ogden, UT | $33,140 | 6% below national |
| 191 | Albuquerque, NM | $33,080 | 6% below national |
| 192 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $33,040 | 7% below national |
| 193 | Burlington, NC | $33,010 | 7% below national |
| 194 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $33,000 | 7% below national |
| 195 | Omaha, NE-IA | $32,980 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $32,950 | 7% below national |
| 197 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $32,910 | 7% below national |
| 198 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $32,910 | 7% below national |
| 199 | Laredo, TX | $32,890 | 7% below national |
| 200 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $32,810 | 7% below national |
| 201 | Gettysburg, PA | $32,750 | 7% below national |
| 202 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $32,720 | 7% below national |
| 203 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $32,720 | 7% below national |
| 204 | Rockford, IL | $32,720 | 7% below national |
| 205 | Williamsport, PA | $32,720 | 7% below national |
| 206 | Lancaster, PA | $32,400 | 8% below national |
| 207 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $32,400 | 8% below national |
| 208 | Knoxville, TN | $32,390 | 8% below national |
| 209 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $32,360 | 8% below national |
| 210 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $32,220 | 9% below national |
| 211 | San Angelo, TX | $32,220 | 9% below national |
| 212 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $32,220 | 9% below national |
| 213 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $32,220 | 9% below national |
| 214 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $32,150 | 9% below national |
| 215 | Lebanon, PA | $32,150 | 9% below national |
| 216 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $32,150 | 9% below national |
| 217 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $32,130 | 9% below national |
| 218 | Rapid City, SD | $32,090 | 9% below national |
| 219 | Peoria, IL | $32,010 | 9% below national |
| 220 | Harrisonburg, VA | $31,980 | 10% below national |
| 221 | Traverse City, MI | $31,970 | 10% below national |
| 222 | Battle Creek, MI | $31,940 | 10% below national |
| 223 | Great Falls, MT | $31,910 | 10% below national |
| 224 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $31,730 | 10% below national |
| 225 | Decatur, IL | $31,670 | 10% below national |
| 226 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,650 | 10% below national |
| 227 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $31,560 | 11% below national |
| 228 | Greenville, NC | $31,550 | 11% below national |
| 229 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $31,540 | 11% below national |
| 230 | Waco, TX | $31,540 | 11% below national |
| 231 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,530 | 11% below national |
| 232 | Reading, PA | $31,320 | 11% below national |
| 233 | Bloomington, IL | $31,280 | 12% below national |
| 234 | Pocatello, ID | $31,270 | 12% below national |
| 235 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 236 | Dover, DE | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 237 | Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 238 | Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 239 | Punta Gorda, FL | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 240 | Saginaw, MI | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 241 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 242 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 243 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 244 | Akron, OH | $31,190 | 12% below national |
| 245 | El Paso, TX | $31,190 | 12% below national |
| 246 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $31,190 | 12% below national |
| 247 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $31,180 | 12% below national |
| 248 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $31,170 | 12% below national |
| 249 | Goldsboro, NC | $31,130 | 12% below national |
| 250 | Jacksonville, FL | $31,120 | 12% below national |
| 251 | Sheboygan, WI | $31,120 | 12% below national |
| 252 | Flint, MI | $31,110 | 12% below national |
| 253 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $31,110 | 12% below national |
| 254 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $31,070 | 12% below national |
| 255 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $31,040 | 12% below national |
| 256 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $31,040 | 12% below national |
| 257 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $31,030 | 12% below national |
| 258 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $31,010 | 12% below national |
| 259 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30,950 | 12% below national |
| 260 | Lincoln, NE | $30,940 | 12% below national |
| 261 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $30,930 | 13% below national |
| 262 | Columbus, OH | $30,920 | 13% below national |
| 263 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $30,920 | 13% below national |
| 264 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $30,900 | 13% below national |
| 265 | Jackson, TN | $30,890 | 13% below national |
| 266 | Toledo, OH | $30,870 | 13% below national |
| 267 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $30,870 | 13% below national |
| 268 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,860 | 13% below national |
| 269 | Idaho Falls, ID | $30,830 | 13% below national |
| 270 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,830 | 13% below national |
| 271 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $30,810 | 13% below national |
| 272 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $30,770 | 13% below national |
| 273 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $30,750 | 13% below national |
| 274 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $30,730 | 13% below national |
| 275 | Columbia, SC | $30,720 | 13% below national |
| 276 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,700 | 13% below national |
| 277 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $30,700 | 13% below national |
| 278 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $30,670 | 13% below national |
| 279 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $30,630 | 13% below national |
| 280 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $30,550 | 14% below national |
| 281 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $30,540 | 14% below national |
| 282 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $30,530 | 14% below national |
| 283 | Winchester, VA-WV | $30,470 | 14% below national |
| 284 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,470 | 14% below national |
| 285 | Jacksonville, NC | $30,460 | 14% below national |
| 286 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,440 | 14% below national |
| 287 | Logan, UT-ID | $30,430 | 14% below national |
| 288 | Wausau, WI | $30,430 | 14% below national |
| 289 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $30,420 | 14% below national |
| 290 | Jonesboro, AR | $30,410 | 14% below national |
| 291 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $30,410 | 14% below national |
| 292 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $30,390 | 14% below national |
| 293 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,380 | 14% below national |
| 294 | Winston-Salem, NC | $30,340 | 14% below national |
| 295 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $30,320 | 14% below national |
| 296 | Twin Falls, ID | $30,290 | 14% below national |
| 297 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $30,270 | 14% below national |
| 298 | Cleveland, OH | $30,220 | 15% below national |
| 299 | Midland, MI | $30,220 | 15% below national |
| 300 | Green Bay, WI | $30,190 | 15% below national |
| 301 | Carson City, NV | $30,160 | 15% below national |
| 302 | Las Cruces, NM | $30,160 | 15% below national |
| 303 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $30,150 | 15% below national |
| 304 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $30,130 | 15% below national |
| 305 | Appleton, WI | $30,110 | 15% below national |
| 306 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $30,090 | 15% below national |
| 307 | Roanoke, VA | $30,060 | 15% below national |
| 308 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $30,030 | 15% below national |
| 309 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $30,020 | 15% below national |
| 310 | Wichita, KS | $30,000 | 15% below national |
| 311 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $29,990 | 15% below national |
| 312 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $29,960 | 15% below national |
| 313 | Columbia, MO | $29,950 | 15% below national |
| 314 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $29,940 | 15% below national |
| 315 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $29,910 | 15% below national |
| 316 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,890 | 15% below national |
| 317 | Morgantown, WV | $29,890 | 15% below national |
| 318 | Springfield, OH | $29,890 | 15% below national |
| 319 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $29,890 | 15% below national |
| 320 | Manhattan, KS | $29,880 | 15% below national |
| 321 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $29,880 | 15% below national |
| 322 | Niles, MI | $29,870 | 16% below national |
| 323 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $29,870 | 16% below national |
| 324 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,860 | 16% below national |
| 325 | Tulsa, OK | $29,850 | 16% below national |
| 326 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,830 | 16% below national |
| 327 | Monroe, MI | $29,820 | 16% below national |
| 328 | Jackson, MI | $29,810 | 16% below national |
| 329 | Casper, WY | $29,790 | 16% below national |
| 330 | Erie, PA | $29,780 | 16% below national |
| 331 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,780 | 16% below national |
| 332 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,750 | 16% below national |
| 333 | Kenosha, WI | $29,740 | 16% below national |
| 334 | Elizabethtown, KY | $29,730 | 16% below national |
| 335 | Bloomington, IN | $29,720 | 16% below national |
| 336 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $29,720 | 16% below national |
| 337 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $29,710 | 16% below national |
| 338 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $29,700 | 16% below national |
| 339 | Tallahassee, FL | $29,690 | 16% below national |
| 340 | Gainesville, GA | $29,680 | 16% below national |
| 341 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $29,680 | 16% below national |
| 342 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $29,630 | 16% below national |
| 343 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $29,630 | 16% below national |
| 344 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,630 | 16% below national |
| 345 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,600 | 16% below national |
| 346 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $29,590 | 16% below national |
| 347 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,590 | 16% below national |
| 348 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $29,570 | 16% below national |
| 349 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $29,540 | 16% below national |
| 350 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $29,520 | 17% below national |
| 351 | Wilmington, NC | $29,520 | 17% below national |
| 352 | Bowling Green, KY | $29,510 | 17% below national |
| 353 | Fort Wayne, IN | $29,510 | 17% below national |
| 354 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $29,490 | 17% below national |
| 355 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $29,480 | 17% below national |
| 356 | State College, PA | $29,480 | 17% below national |
| 357 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $29,460 | 17% below national |
| 358 | Mansfield, OH | $29,450 | 17% below national |
| 359 | Eau Claire, WI | $29,440 | 17% below national |
| 360 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $29,440 | 17% below national |
| 361 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29,440 | 17% below national |
| 362 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $29,440 | 17% below national |
| 363 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,430 | 17% below national |
| 364 | Dubuque, IA | $29,420 | 17% below national |
| 365 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $29,420 | 17% below national |
| 366 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $29,400 | 17% below national |
| 367 | York-Hanover, PA | $29,400 | 17% below national |
| 368 | Evansville, IN | $29,390 | 17% below national |
| 369 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $29,390 | 17% below national |
| 370 | Springfield, MO | $29,390 | 17% below national |
| 371 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,390 | 17% below national |
| 372 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $29,380 | 17% below national |
| 373 | Bay City, MI | $29,340 | 17% below national |
| 374 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,310 | 17% below national |
| 375 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $29,310 | 17% below national |
| 376 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $29,290 | 17% below national |
| 377 | Jefferson City, MO | $29,280 | 17% below national |
| 378 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $29,270 | 17% below national |
| 379 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,270 | 17% below national |
| 380 | Florence, SC | $29,210 | 17% below national |
| 381 | Tyler, TX | $29,210 | 17% below national |
| 382 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,190 | 17% below national |
| 383 | Amarillo, TX | $29,180 | 17% below national |
| 384 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,120 | 18% below national |
| 385 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,120 | 18% below national |
| 386 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,120 | 18% below national |
| 387 | Huntsville, AL | $29,110 | 18% below national |
| 388 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $29,100 | 18% below national |
| 389 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $29,090 | 18% below national |
| 390 | Fayetteville, NC | $29,070 | 18% below national |
| 391 | Owensboro, KY | $29,070 | 18% below national |
| 392 | Lubbock, TX | $29,030 | 18% below national |
| 393 | Grand Island, NE | $28,990 | 18% below national |
| 394 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $28,980 | 18% below national |
| 395 | Corpus Christi, TX | $28,970 | 18% below national |
| 396 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $28,970 | 18% below national |
| 397 | Sandusky, OH | $28,970 | 18% below national |
| 398 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $28,970 | 18% below national |
| 399 | Columbus, IN | $28,960 | 18% below national |
| 400 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $28,960 | 18% below national |
| 401 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $28,940 | 18% below national |
| 402 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $28,910 | 18% below national |
| 403 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $28,860 | 18% below national |
| 404 | Victoria, TX | $28,850 | 18% below national |
| 405 | Wichita Falls, TX | $28,850 | 18% below national |
| 406 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $28,850 | 18% below national |
| 407 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,850 | 18% below national |
| 408 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,840 | 18% below national |
| 409 | Fond du Lac, WI | $28,810 | 19% below national |
| 410 | Lynchburg, VA | $28,800 | 19% below national |
| 411 | Oklahoma City, OK | $28,790 | 19% below national |
| 412 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,780 | 19% below national |
| 413 | Cleveland, TN | $28,770 | 19% below national |
| 414 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $28,760 | 19% below national |
| 415 | Kokomo, IN | $28,750 | 19% below national |
| 416 | Warner Robins, GA | $28,740 | 19% below national |
| 417 | Birmingham, AL | $28,710 | 19% below national |
| 418 | Savannah, GA | $28,700 | 19% below national |
| 419 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $28,700 | 19% below national |
| 420 | Altoona, PA | $28,670 | 19% below national |
| 421 | Lawrence, KS | $28,660 | 19% below national |
| 422 | Decatur, AL | $28,650 | 19% below national |
| 423 | Sebring, FL | $28,650 | 19% below national |
| 424 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $28,640 | 19% below national |
| 425 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $28,640 | 19% below national |
| 426 | Lima, OH | $28,630 | 19% below national |
| 427 | Joplin, MO-KS | $28,610 | 19% below national |
| 428 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $28,580 | 19% below national |
| 429 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $28,570 | 19% below national |
| 430 | Mobile, AL | $28,560 | 19% below national |
| 431 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $28,560 | 19% below national |
| 432 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $28,560 | 19% below national |
| 433 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $28,550 | 19% below national |
| 434 | Rocky Mount, NC | $28,520 | 19% below national |
| 435 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $28,500 | 19% below national |
| 436 | Hot Springs, AR | $28,450 | 20% below national |
| 437 | Longview, TX | $28,450 | 20% below national |
| 438 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,440 | 20% below national |
| 439 | Johnson City, TN | $28,430 | 20% below national |
| 440 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,430 | 20% below national |
| 441 | Charleston, WV | $28,360 | 20% below national |
| 442 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,320 | 20% below national |
| 443 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $28,290 | 20% below national |
| 444 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,290 | 20% below national |
| 445 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $28,240 | 20% below national |
| 446 | Cheyenne, WY | $28,230 | 20% below national |
| 447 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $28,220 | 20% below national |
| 448 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,220 | 20% below national |
| 449 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $28,200 | 20% below national |
| 450 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $28,160 | 20% below national |
| 451 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $28,110 | 21% below national |
| 452 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $28,060 | 21% below national |
| 453 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $27,980 | 21% below national |
| 454 | Chambersburg, PA | $27,930 | 21% below national |
| 455 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $27,930 | 21% below national |
| 456 | Johnstown, PA | $27,930 | 21% below national |
| 457 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $27,860 | 21% below national |
| 458 | Morristown, TN | $27,850 | 21% below national |
| 459 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $27,850 | 21% below national |
| 460 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $27,790 | 21% below national |
| 461 | Muncie, IN | $27,770 | 21% below national |
| 462 | Beckley, WV | $27,760 | 21% below national |
| 463 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,760 | 21% below national |
| 464 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $27,690 | 22% below national |
| 465 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $27,650 | 22% below national |
| 466 | Baton Rouge, LA | $27,640 | 22% below national |
| 467 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $27,640 | 22% below national |
| 468 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $27,600 | 22% below national |
| 469 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $27,570 | 22% below national |
| 470 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $27,470 | 22% below national |
| 471 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $27,450 | 22% below national |
| 472 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,440 | 22% below national |
| 473 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $27,430 | 22% below national |
| 474 | Montgomery, AL | $27,410 | 22% below national |
| 475 | Columbus, GA-AL | $27,390 | 23% below national |
| 476 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $27,350 | 23% below national |
| 477 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,350 | 23% below national |
| 478 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $27,300 | 23% below national |
| 479 | Terre Haute, IN | $27,280 | 23% below national |
| 480 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,210 | 23% below national |
| 481 | Sumter, SC | $27,180 | 23% below national |
| 482 | Jackson, MS | $27,110 | 23% below national |
| 483 | Alexandria, LA | $27,060 | 23% below national |
| 484 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $26,960 | 24% below national |
| 485 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $26,950 | 24% below national |
| 486 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $26,950 | 24% below national |
| 487 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $26,910 | 24% below national |
| 488 | Lawton, OK | $26,890 | 24% below national |
| 489 | Enid, OK | $26,810 | 24% below national |
| 490 | Hattiesburg, MS | $26,790 | 24% below national |
| 491 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $26,790 | 24% below national |
| 492 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $26,770 | 24% below national |
| 493 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $26,760 | 24% below national |
| 494 | Dothan, AL | $26,730 | 24% below national |
| 495 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $26,730 | 24% below national |
| 496 | Mayaguez, PR | $26,720 | 24% below national |
| 497 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $26,600 | 25% below national |
| 498 | Monroe, LA | $26,530 | 25% below national |
| 499 | Rome, GA | $26,520 | 25% below national |
| 500 | Dalton, GA | $26,330 | 26% below national |
| 501 | Lafayette, LA | $26,330 | 26% below national |
| 502 | Lake Charles, LA | $26,160 | 26% below national |
| 503 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $25,730 | 27% below national |
| 504 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $25,650 | 27% below national |
| 505 | Topeka, KS | $25,630 | 28% below national |
| 506 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $25,220 | 29% below national |
| 507 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $24,430 | 31% below national |
| 508 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $23,950 | 32% below national |
| 509 | Albany, GA | $23,860 | 33% below national |
| 510 | Hammond, LA | $23,820 | 33% below national |
| 511 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $23,700 | 33% below national |
| 512 | Gadsden, AL | $23,590 | 33% below national |
| 513 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $23,580 | 33% below national |
| 514 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $23,130 | 35% below national |
| 515 | Valdosta, GA | $23,000 | 35% below national |
| 516 | Ponce, PR | $22,160 | 37% below national |
| 517 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $21,950 | 38% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 39 (personal care and service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Animal Caretakers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Animal Caretakers is $35,360 ($17.00/hour). The salary range spans from $27,250 at the 10th percentile to $50,060 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Animal Caretakers the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Animal Caretakers at $44,210/year, which is +25% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Animal Caretakers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Animal Caretakers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Animal Caretakers? ▼
Animal Caretakers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2 per 100 workers.
Is Animal Caretakers a good career? ▼
Employment for Animal Caretakers is projected to grow 12.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 74,600 openings are projected each year.
How does Animal Caretakers pay vary by state? ▼
Animal Caretakers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $44,210/year, while West Virginia pays the least at $28,550/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Animal Caretakers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Animal Caretakers is High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area at $52,000/year. BLS reports wage data for 517 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Animal Caretakers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $40,050/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $44,210/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.