Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$27,250
- 25th Percentile — Junior$29,820
- 50th Percentile — Median$35,360
- 75th Percentile — Senior$40,050
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$50,060
The top 10% of Animal Caretakers earn $50,060 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $27,250, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $46,510 | +24.7% |
| Washington | $46,160 | +23.8% |
| Massachusetts | $45,080 | +20.9% |
| Arizona | $44,630 | +19.7% |
| Hawaii | $44,620 | +19.6% |
| California | $42,730 | +14.6% |
| Connecticut | $42,710 | +14.5% |
| Rhode Island | $42,010 | +12.6% |
| Maryland | $41,820 | +12.1% |
| Colorado | $41,010 | +9.9% |
| New York | $40,540 | +8.7% |
| Alaska | $40,460 | +8.5% |
| Oregon | $40,380 | +8.3% |
| New Jersey | $39,940 | +7.1% |
| Maine | $39,790 | +6.7% |
| North Dakota | $39,460 | +5.8% |
| Illinois | $38,670 | +3.7% |
| Vermont | $38,460 | +3.1% |
| Minnesota | $38,320 | +2.7% |
| Nebraska | $37,610 | +0.8% |
| Utah | $37,600 | +0.8% |
| New Hampshire | $37,160 | -0.4% |
| Florida | $36,820 | -1.3% |
| Montana | $36,170 | -3.0% |
| Virginia | $36,070 | -3.3% |
| Texas | $35,970 | -3.6% |
| Delaware | $35,940 | -3.6% |
| New Mexico | $35,050 | -6.0% |
| Idaho | $34,970 | -6.2% |
| Ohio | $34,690 | -7.0% |
| Missouri | $34,500 | -7.5% |
| Nevada | $34,400 | -7.8% |
| Wisconsin | $34,330 | -8.0% |
| Wyoming | $34,150 | -8.4% |
| Kansas | $34,130 | -8.5% |
| Arkansas | $34,110 | -8.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $34,110 | -8.6% |
| Tennessee | $34,110 | -8.6% |
| Kentucky | $34,070 | -8.7% |
| North Carolina | $33,870 | -9.2% |
| Michigan | $33,850 | -9.2% |
| South Dakota | $33,700 | -9.7% |
| South Carolina | $33,640 | -9.8% |
| Iowa | $32,900 | -11.8% |
| Georgia | $32,250 | -13.5% |
| Indiana | $31,900 | -14.5% |
| West Virginia | $31,550 | -15.4% |
| Alabama | $31,300 | -16.1% |
| Oklahoma | $31,020 | -16.8% |
| Louisiana | $29,840 | -20.0% |
| Mississippi | $28,270 | -24.2% |
What Factors Affect Animal Caretakers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Animal Caretakers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $46,510, while Mississippi pays $28,270 — a gap of $18,240 per year.
The middle half of Animal Caretakers earn between $29,820 and $40,050 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,250, while the top 10% earn more than $50,060.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Animal Caretakers?
The average salary for Animal Caretakers in the United States is $37,300 per year, with a median of $35,360.
What is the starting salary for Animal Caretakers?
Entry-level Animal Caretakers typically earn between $27,250 and $29,820 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Animal Caretakers the most?
District of Columbia pays Animal Caretakers the most at $46,510 per year on average, followed by Washington ($46,160) and Massachusetts ($45,080).
How much do Animal Caretakers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $37,300, Animal Caretakers earn approximately $17.93 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Animal Caretakers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 266,910 Animal Caretakers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $37,300 and a median of $35,360 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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