How much does an animal caretaker make in Ames?
$38,700a year
Median yearly pay for animal caretakers in the Ames, IA metro area. That is $18.61 an hour or $3,225 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.61
- Vs. national median
- +9%
- Rank among cities
- 16 of 385
- Jobs in the area
- 190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,160Median: $38,700Highest 10%: $56,010
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,160 | $12.10 | |
| 25th | $31,340 | $15.07 | |
| Median | $38,700 | $18.61 | |
| 75th | $47,190 | $22.69 | |
| 90th | $56,010 | $26.93 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for animal caretakers.
| Iowa City, IA | $33,510 |
| Omaha, NE | $32,980 |
| Davenport, IA | $31,200 |
| Des Moines, IA | $30,950 |
| Sioux City, IA | $29,880 |
| Waterloo, IA | $29,870 |
| Dubuque, IA | $29,420 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,190 |
Related jobs in Ames
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Ames, IAFrequently asked questions
How much does an animal caretaker make an hour in Ames?
The median hourly pay in the Ames, IA metro area is $18.61 ($38,700 a year).
Do animal caretakers make more in Ames than the national average?
Yes: $38,700 against $35,360 nationally, 9% more.
How does Ames compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $30,080, so Ames pays 29% more.
Where does Ames rank for animal caretaker pay?
16 of 385 metro areas with data.
How much does an animal caretaker make starting out in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,160 or less a year; the top 10% make $56,010 or more.
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.