Median Salary
$35,360
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$17.00
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$50,060
entry level starts ~$27,250
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 267,000 employed
How much does an Animal Caretaker make?
Animal Caretakers in the United States bring home a median salary of $35,360 a year, or around $17.00 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $27,250, while the top 10% earn $50,060.
That is $26,030 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Animal Caretaker salary range by percentile
Half of all Animal Caretakers earn between $29,820 and $40,050 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,250 | $13.10 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $29,820 | $14.34 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $35,360 | $17.00 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $40,050 | $19.25 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,060 | $24.07 |
|
Highest-paying states for Animal Caretaker
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Animal Caretaker pay at $44,210 a year, followed by Washington ($40,570) and Hawaii ($40,130). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $26,970 — a gap of $17,240 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Animal Caretaker salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $44,210Washington $40,570Hawaii $40,130Massachusetts $39,650California $38,700Arizona $38,180New York $37,840Colorado $37,430Connecticut $37,310Maine $37,230Rhode Island $37,120Maryland $36,780Alaska $36,640Oregon $36,580Minnesota $36,430Vermont $36,090New Jersey $35,850Illinois $35,570New Hampshire $34,790Utah $34,750Virginia $34,380Montana $34,210Florida $34,150North Dakota $34,040Delaware $33,910New Mexico $33,570Texas $32,730Idaho $32,170Nebraska $31,680Pennsylvania $31,360South Carolina $31,280Missouri $31,230North Carolina $30,870Kentucky $30,720Tennessee $30,550South Dakota $30,390Michigan $30,320Nevada $30,320Ohio $30,310Arkansas $30,230Wisconsin $30,160Iowa $30,080Indiana $29,990Georgia $29,860Kansas $29,830Wyoming $29,080Oklahoma $28,940West Virginia $28,550Alabama $28,330Louisiana $27,910Mississippi $26,970
Workforce and education
About 267,000 people work as Animal Caretakers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $37,300 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Animal Caretaker make in the United States?
The median Animal Caretaker salary in the United States is $35,360 per year, or about $17.00 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $27,250, while the top 10% of earners make $50,060 or more.
How does Animal Caretaker pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Animal Caretaker median of $35,360 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Animal Caretakers the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Animal Caretakers, with a median salary of $44,210 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Animal Caretaker?
Becoming an Animal Caretaker typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Animal Caretakers work in the United States?
About 267,000 people were employed as Animal Caretakers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.