What is the typical salary range for a Animal Caretaker?

Pay typically falls between $31,000 and $41,500 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Animal Caretaker Salary: $38,500 Average

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Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET

Average base salary

$38,500 / year

≈ $3,200 per month · $18.51 per hour

LocationOr metro area

25th percentile
$31,000Average
$38,50075th percentile
$41,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Animal Caretaker salary by state

Alabama$32,500

Alaska$42,000

Arizona$46,000

Arkansas$35,500

California$44,000

Colorado$42,500

Connecticut$44,000

Delaware$37,000

District of Columbia$48,000

Florida$38,000

Georgia$33,500

Hawaii$46,000

Idaho$36,000

Illinois$40,000

Indiana$33,000

Iowa$34,000

Kansas$35,500

Kentucky$35,500

Louisiana$31,000

Maine$41,000

Maryland$43,500

Massachusetts$46,500

Michigan$35,000

Minnesota$39,500

Mississippi$29,500

Missouri$35,500

Montana$37,500

Nebraska$39,000

Nevada$35,500

New Hampshire$38,500

New Jersey$41,500

New Mexico$36,500

New York$42,000

North Carolina$35,000

North Dakota$41,000

Ohio$36,000

Oklahoma$32,000

Oregon$42,000

Pennsylvania$35,500

Rhode Island$43,500

South Carolina$35,000

South Dakota$35,000

Tennessee$35,500

Texas$37,000

Utah$39,000

Vermont$40,000

Virginia$37,500

Washington$48,000

West Virginia$32,500

Wisconsin$35,500

Wyoming$35,500

About this role

Animal Caretaker is a professional role within the function in the Personal Care and Service job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Animal Caretakers do

Typical education: High School Diploma

Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.

Top skills: Monitoring Service Orientation Reading Comprehension Judgment and Decision Making Coordination Active Listening

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Animal Caretaker pay by experience level

Entry level$28,000

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$31,000

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$36,500

Mid-career median pay

Senior$41,500

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$52,000

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+12.1%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

74,600

projected openings per year

Growing faster than average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Animal Caretaker salary by industry

Personal and Laundry Services

146,230 workers

$38,000

Other Personal Services

146,190 workers

$38,000

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

36,180 workers

$35,500

Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

34,170 workers

$35,000

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers

32,510 workers

$40,500

Other Miscellaneous Retailers

32,480 workers

$40,500

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

10,440 workers

$36,500

Social Advocacy Organizations

10,170 workers

$36,500

Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS

8,550 workers

$45,000

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions

8,250 workers

$45,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Animal Caretaker pays 19% below the average across 33 roles in the Personal Care and Service job family (family average $47,500).

Similar-paying roles in Personal Care and Service

Funeral Attendant$38,500

Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$38,000

Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants$40,000

Childcare Worker$36,000

Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$41,500

Gambling Service Workers, All Other$43,000

Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$34,500

Amusement and Recreation Attendants$33,500

Concierge$44,000

Shampooer$33,000

Careers related to Animal Caretaker

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$41,500

Animal Trainer$48,500

Animal Breeder$59,000

Animal Control Worker$50,000

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$51,000

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$40,500

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Animal Caretaker make?

The average base salary for a Animal Caretaker in the United States is $38,500 per year, or about $18.51 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $31,000 and $41,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Personal Care and Service roles?

The Personal Care and Service job family averages $47,500 across 33 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
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