How much does an animal caretaker make in Santa Cruz?
$39,870a year
Median yearly pay for animal caretakers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $19.17 an hour or $3,323 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.17
- Vs. national median
- +13%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 385
- Jobs in the area
- 200
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,100Median: $39,870Highest 10%: $53,160
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,100 | $17.36 | |
| 25th | $37,160 | $17.87 | |
| Median | $39,870 | $19.17 | |
| 75th | $46,680 | $22.44 | |
| 90th | $53,160 | $25.56 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for animal caretakers.
| San Jose, CA | $44,070 |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,640 |
| Vallejo, CA | $39,520 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $38,840 |
| Napa, CA | $38,750 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,520 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,320 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,280 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $37,970 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,960 |
| San Diego, CA | $37,870 |
| Sacramento, CA | $37,780 |
| Hanford, CA | $37,340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,300 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,120 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,050 |
| Redding, CA | $36,900 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $36,660 |
| Oxnard, CA | $36,620 |
| Merced, CA | $36,480 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,430 |
| Visalia, CA | $36,150 |
| Chico, CA | $35,990 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Santa Cruz, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does an animal caretaker make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $19.17 ($39,870 a year).
Do animal caretakers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $39,870 against $35,360 nationally, 13% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $38,700, so Santa Cruz pays 3% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for animal caretaker pay?
9 of 385 metro areas with data.
How much does an animal caretaker make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,100 or less a year; the top 10% make $53,160 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.