The average wage for an animal caretaker in the United States is around $1.59 per hour.
Avg Wage
Animal caretakers earn an average hourly wage of $1.59.
Salaries typically start from $1.18 per hour and go up to $2.14 per hour.
95% below national average Updated in 2023
Animal caretaker earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:
$2.14 per hour
$4,456 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:
$1.86 per hour
$3,871 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:
$1.59 per hour
$3,310 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:
$1.36 per hour
$2,831 per year
10th percentile
Starting level animal caretaker earnings begin at:
$1.18 per hour
$2,459 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Animal caretaker salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $37,450 |
| Washington | $34,470 |
| Massachusetts | $31,720 |
| California | $30,620 |
| Hawaii | $30,150 |
| New York | $30,060 |
| Connecticut | $30,030 |
| Alaska | $29,940 |
| Rhode Island | $29,910 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $29,760 |
| Colorado | $29,730 |
| Oregon | $29,640 |
| Arizona | $29,630 |
| Vermont | $29,630 |
| Maine | $29,220 |
| Minnesota | $29,220 |
| New Jersey | $29,060 |
| Maryland | $29,050 |
| New Hampshire | $28,720 |
| North Dakota | $28,490 |
| Wyoming | $28,360 |
| Montana | $28,350 |
| Nevada | $28,200 |
| Nebraska | $28,070 |
| Michigan | $27,920 |
| Virginia | $27,670 |
| Illinois | $27,530 |
| Delaware | $27,490 |
| New Mexico | $27,340 |
| Utah | $26,620 |
| Missouri | $26,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $26,050 |
| Kentucky | $26,020 |
| Texas | $24,690 |
| Arkansas | $24,400 |
| Guam | $23,930 |
| Florida | $23,920 |
| South Dakota | $23,920 |
| Iowa | $23,890 |
| Wisconsin | $23,890 |
| South Carolina | $23,720 |
| Indiana | $23,700 |
| Georgia | $23,630 |
| North Carolina | $23,520 |
| Idaho | $23,470 |
| Oklahoma | $23,330 |
| Tennessee | $23,330 |
| West Virginia | $23,320 |
| Alabama | $23,000 |
| Louisiana | $22,980 |
| Ohio | $22,890 |
| Kansas | $22,660 |
| Mississippi | $22,090 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,900 |
How do animal caretaker salaries compare to similar careers?
Animal caretakers earn 61% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than kennel technicians but more than animal trainers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Kennel technician salary | $12K |
| Farmer salary | $6K |
| Animal control worker salary | $11K |
| Veterinary assistant salary | $10K |
| Dog walker salary | $2K |
| Animal caretaker salary | $3K |
| Animal trainer salary | $0K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)