Animal Caretaker salary in the U.S.
Animal Caretakers in the U.S. earn a median of $35,360 a year ($17.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 266,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,060 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $37,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for animal caretakers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| 25th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 75th percentile | $40,050 | $19.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| Average (mean) | $37,300 | $17.94 |
Half of animal caretakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,946.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,473.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,360 |
| Weekly | $680 |
| Hourly | $17.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Animal Caretaker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $44,210 | 460 |
| Washington | $40,570 | 6,620 |
| Hawaii | $40,130 | 570 |
| Massachusetts | $39,650 | 6,900 |
| California | $38,700 | 25,710 |
| Arizona | $38,180 | 6,330 |
| New York | $37,840 | 12,470 |
| Colorado | $37,430 | 6,290 |
| Connecticut | $37,310 | 3,000 |
| Maine | $37,230 | 1,430 |
| Rhode Island | $37,120 | 1,020 |
| Maryland | $36,780 | 5,570 |
| Alaska | $36,640 | 550 |
| Oregon | $36,580 | 3,470 |
| Minnesota | $36,430 | 4,250 |
| Vermont | $36,090 | 430 |
| New Jersey | $35,850 | 5,890 |
| Illinois | $35,570 | 11,070 |
| Virgin Islands | $35,570 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $34,790 | 1,810 |
| Utah | $34,750 | 2,350 |
| Virginia | $34,380 | 10,070 |
| Montana | $34,210 | 1,200 |
| Florida | $34,150 | 17,210 |
| North Dakota | $34,040 | 770 |
| Delaware | $33,910 | 1,230 |
| New Mexico | $33,570 | 1,710 |
| Texas | $32,730 | 20,450 |
| Idaho | $32,170 | 1,760 |
| Nebraska | $31,680 | 2,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,360 | 9,910 |
| South Carolina | $31,280 | 4,090 |
| Missouri | $31,230 | 5,820 |
| North Carolina | $30,870 | 9,730 |
| Kentucky | $30,720 | 6,140 |
| Tennessee | $30,550 | 6,110 |
| South Dakota | $30,390 | 1,110 |
| Michigan | $30,320 | 6,290 |
| Nevada | $30,320 | 2,470 |
| Ohio | $30,310 | 9,350 |
| Arkansas | $30,230 | 2,040 |
| Wisconsin | $30,160 | 5,720 |
| Iowa | $30,080 | 3,480 |
| Indiana | $29,990 | 6,420 |
| Georgia | $29,860 | 9,110 |
| Kansas | $29,830 | 3,000 |
| Wyoming | $29,080 | 460 |
| Oklahoma | $28,940 | 3,170 |
| West Virginia | $28,550 | 1,160 |
| Alabama | $28,330 | 4,100 |
| Louisiana | $27,910 | 2,660 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,600 | 520 |
| Mississippi | $26,970 | 1,900 |
Best-paying metro areas for animal caretakers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $46,270 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,070 | 1,090 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,060 | 3,950 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,640 | 3,440 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,540 | 250 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $41,330 | 170 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,880 | 40 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $39,870 | 150 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,870 | 200 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39,850 | 5,590 |
| Vallejo, CA | $39,520 | 230 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $39,100 | 260 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,030 | 4,480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,840 | 600 |
| Napa, CA | $38,750 | 100 |
Metro areas with the most animal caretakers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,430 | $37,900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,000 | $38,520 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,510 | $36,110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,590 | $37,710 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 6,110 | $34,310 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 6,010 | $30,090 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,590 | $39,850 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,480 | $34,970 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,650 | $30,930 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4,480 | $39,030 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,950 | $44,060 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,820 | $35,160 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3,560 | $37,640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,440 | $43,640 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 3,100 | $31,530 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Trainer | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal caretaker make in the U.S.?
The median salary for animal caretakers in the U.S. is $35,360 a year, or $17.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid animal caretakers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of animal caretakers in the U.S. earn at least $50,060 a year. The top 25% earn $40,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for animal caretakers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,250 a year, and a quarter of animal caretakers earn $29,820 or less.
How many animal caretakers work in the U.S.?
About 266,910 animal caretakers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.