Animal Caretaker Salary in the U.S.
Median annual pay in the U.S.
$35,360
$17.00/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| 25th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 75th percentile | $40,050 | $19.26 |
| 90th percentile | $50,060 | $24.07 |
Employment
- Employment in the U.S.
- 266,910
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Comparison
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | ||
| 1st | $44,210 | $40,227 1st |
| Washington | ||
| 2nd | $40,570 | $37,911 5th |
| Hawaii | ||
| 3rd | $40,130 | $36,498 9th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 4th | $39,650 | $37,492 6th |
| California | ||
| 5th | $38,700 | $34,953 22nd |
| Arizona | ||
| 6th | $38,180 | $37,923 4th |
| New York | ||
| 7th | $37,840 | $35,063 20th |
| Colorado | ||
| 8th | $37,430 | $36,321 11th |
| Connecticut | ||
| 9th | $37,310 | $36,010 14th |
| Maine | ||
| 10th | $37,230 | $38,362 2nd |
| Rhode Island | ||
| 11th | $37,120 | $36,293 12th |
| Maryland | ||
| 12th | $36,780 | $35,042 21st |
| Alaska | ||
| 13th | $36,640 | $35,796 15th |
| Oregon | ||
| 14th | $36,580 | $35,391 17th |
| Minnesota | ||
| 15th | $36,430 | $36,939 7th |
| Vermont | ||
| 16th | $36,090 | $36,842 8th |
| New Jersey | ||
| 17th | $35,850 | $32,949 37th |
| Illinois | ||
| 18th | $35,570 | $35,585 16th |
| New Hampshire | ||
| 19th | $34,790 | $33,399 32nd |
| Utah | ||
| 20th | $34,750 | $35,149 19th |
| Virginia | ||
| 21st | $34,380 | $34,005 28th |
| Montana | ||
| 22nd | $34,210 | $36,146 13th |
| Florida | ||
| 23rd | $34,150 | $33,023 36th |
| North Dakota | ||
| 24th | $34,040 | $38,265 3rd |
| Delaware | ||
| 25th | $33,910 | $33,975 29th |
| New Mexico | ||
| 26th | $33,570 | $36,405 10th |
| Texas | ||
| 27th | $32,730 | $33,722 30th |
| Idaho | ||
| 28th | $32,170 | $33,688 31st |
| Nebraska | ||
| 29th | $31,680 | $35,160 18th |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 30th | $31,360 | $32,140 41st |
| South Carolina | ||
| 31st | $31,280 | $33,366 33rd |
| Missouri | ||
| 32nd | $31,230 | $34,388 24th |
| North Carolina | ||
| 33rd | $30,870 | $32,727 39th |
| Kentucky | ||
| 34th | $30,720 | $34,073 27th |
| Tennessee | ||
| 35th | $30,550 | $33,254 34th |
| South Dakota | ||
| 36th | $30,390 | $34,306 25th |
| Michigan | ||
| 37th | $30,320 | $31,512 47th |
| Nevada | ||
| 37th | $30,320 | $30,326 51st |
| Ohio | ||
| 39th | $30,310 | $32,671 40th |
| Arkansas | ||
| 40th | $30,230 | $34,772 23rd |
| Wisconsin | ||
| 41st | $30,160 | $32,053 43rd |
| Iowa | ||
| 42nd | $30,080 | $34,275 26th |
| Indiana | ||
| 43rd | $29,990 | $32,134 42nd |
| Georgia | ||
| 44th | $29,860 | $31,010 50th |
| Kansas | ||
| 45th | $29,830 | $33,119 35th |
| Wyoming | ||
| 46th | $29,080 | $31,373 48th |
| Oklahoma | ||
| 47th | $28,940 | $32,945 38th |
| West Virginia | ||
| 48th | $28,550 | $31,901 44th |
| Alabama | ||
| 49th | $28,330 | $31,895 45th |
| Louisiana | ||
| 50th | $27,910 | $31,641 46th |
| Mississippi | ||
| 51st | $26,970 | $31,017 49th |
Places with the same median share a rank and are listed alphabetically.
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Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Animal Trainer salary in the U.S.
$39,990/year U.S.
- Animal Breeder salary in the U.S.
$51,130/year U.S.
- Veterinary Technologist and Technician salary in the U.S.
$47,380/year U.S.
- Animal Control Worker salary in the U.S.
$45,660/year U.S.
- Farmworker, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals salary in the U.S.
$36,670/year U.S.
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide salary in the U.S.
$35,800/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +12.1%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Last updated