How much does an animal caretaker make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $17.00 an hour or $2,947 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.00
- Average (mean)
- $37,300
- Jobs
- 266,910
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,250 | $13.10 | |
| 25th | $29,820 | $14.34 | |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 | |
| 75th | $40,050 | $19.25 | |
| 90th | $50,060 | $24.07 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $44,210 |
| Washington | $40,570 |
| Hawaii | $40,130 |
| Massachusetts | $39,650 |
| California | $38,700 |
| Arizona | $38,180 |
| New York | $37,840 |
| Colorado | $37,430 |
| Connecticut | $37,310 |
| Maine | $37,230 |
| Rhode Island | $37,120 |
| Maryland | $36,780 |
| Alaska | $36,640 |
| Oregon | $36,580 |
| Minnesota | $36,430 |
| Vermont | $36,090 |
| New Jersey | $35,850 |
| Illinois | $35,570 |
| New Hampshire | $34,790 |
| Utah | $34,750 |
| Virginia | $34,380 |
| Montana | $34,210 |
| Florida | $34,150 |
| North Dakota | $34,040 |
| Delaware | $33,910 |
| New Mexico | $33,570 |
| Texas | $32,730 |
| Idaho | $32,170 |
| Nebraska | $31,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,360 |
| South Carolina | $31,280 |
| Missouri | $31,230 |
| North Carolina | $30,870 |
| Kentucky | $30,720 |
| Tennessee | $30,550 |
| South Dakota | $30,390 |
| Michigan | $30,320 |
| Nevada | $30,320 |
| Ohio | $30,310 |
| Arkansas | $30,230 |
| Wisconsin | $30,160 |
| Iowa | $30,080 |
| Indiana | $29,990 |
| Georgia | $29,860 |
| Kansas | $29,830 |
| Wyoming | $29,080 |
| Oklahoma | $28,940 |
| West Virginia | $28,550 |
| Alabama | $28,330 |
| Louisiana | $27,910 |
| Mississippi | $26,970 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kahului, HI | $46,270 |
| San Jose, CA | $44,070 |
| Seattle, WA | $44,060 |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,640 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,540 |
| Burlington, VT | $41,330 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,880 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $39,870 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,870 |
| Boston, MA | $39,850 |
| Vallejo, CA | $39,520 |
| Bremerton, WA | $39,100 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $39,030 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $38,840 |
| Napa, CA | $38,750 |
In other countries
Animal Caretaker belongs to the international group "Pet groomers and animal care workers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Animal Trainer$39,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does an animal caretaker make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $17.00 ($35,360 a year).
How much does an animal caretaker make a month?
About $2,947 a month before tax, based on a median of $35,360 a year.
How much does an animal caretaker make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,250 or less a year ($13.10 an hour); the top 10% make $50,060 or more.
Which state pays animal caretakers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $44,210 a year, followed by Washington ($40,570) and Hawaii ($40,130).
Which city pays animal caretakers the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $46,270 a year.
How many animal caretakers are there in the United States?
About 266,910 people work as animal caretakers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.