Animal Caretakers salary
Animal Caretakers earn a median of $35,360 a year ($17.00/hr) in the U.S. – from $26,970 in Mississippi to $44,210 in District of Columbia. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$17.00/hr · $35,360 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$27,250$13.10/hr
75% earn more$29,820$14.34/hr
half earn more, half less$35,360$17.00/hr
25% earn more$40,050$19.26/hr
top 10% earn more$50,060$24.07/hr
pulled up by top earners$37,300$17.94/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among animal caretakers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for animal caretakers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
460 jobs · $21.25/hr$44,210
6,620 jobs · $19.51/hr$40,570
570 jobs · $19.29/hr$40,130
6,900 jobs · $19.06/hr$39,650
25,710 jobs · $18.60/hr$38,700
6,330 jobs · $18.35/hr$38,180
12,470 jobs · $18.19/hr$37,840
6,290 jobs · $18.00/hr$37,430
3,000 jobs · $17.94/hr$37,310
1,430 jobs · $17.90/hr$37,230
1,020 jobs · $17.85/hr$37,120
5,570 jobs · $17.68/hr$36,780
550 jobs · $17.61/hr$36,640
3,470 jobs · $17.59/hr$36,580
4,250 jobs · $17.51/hr$36,430
430 jobs · $17.35/hr$36,090
5,890 jobs · $17.24/hr$35,850
11,070 jobs · $17.10/hr$35,570
1,810 jobs · $16.73/hr$34,790
2,350 jobs · $16.71/hr$34,750
10,070 jobs · $16.53/hr$34,380
1,200 jobs · $16.45/hr$34,210
17,210 jobs · $16.42/hr$34,150
770 jobs · $16.37/hr$34,040
1,230 jobs · $16.30/hr$33,910
1,710 jobs · $16.14/hr$33,570
20,450 jobs · $15.74/hr$32,730
1,760 jobs · $15.47/hr$32,170
2,100 jobs · $15.23/hr$31,680
9,910 jobs · $15.08/hr$31,360
4,090 jobs · $15.04/hr$31,280
5,820 jobs · $15.02/hr$31,230
9,730 jobs · $14.84/hr$30,870
6,140 jobs · $14.77/hr$30,720
6,110 jobs · $14.69/hr$30,550
1,110 jobs · $14.61/hr$30,390
6,290 jobs · $14.58/hr$30,320
2,470 jobs · $14.58/hr$30,320
9,350 jobs · $14.57/hr$30,310
2,040 jobs · $14.54/hr$30,230
5,720 jobs · $14.50/hr$30,160
3,480 jobs · $14.46/hr$30,080
6,420 jobs · $14.42/hr$29,990
9,110 jobs · $14.36/hr$29,860
3,000 jobs · $14.34/hr$29,830
460 jobs · $13.98/hr$29,080
3,170 jobs · $13.92/hr$28,940
1,160 jobs · $13.73/hr$28,550
4,100 jobs · $13.62/hr$28,330
2,660 jobs · $13.42/hr$27,910
520 jobs · $13.27/hr$27,600
1,900 jobs · $12.97/hr$26,970
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 39-2021. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do animal caretakers make?
The median wage for animal caretakers in the U.S. was $17.00 an hour or $35,360 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $29,820 and $40,050 a year.
Which state pays animal caretakers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for animal caretakers: $44,210 a year. The lowest published median is in Mississippi at $26,970. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many animal caretakers are there?
BLS estimates 266,910 animal caretakers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.