Animal caretaker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:

$18.37 per hour

$38,200 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:

$14.26 per hour

$29,660 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:

$12.80 per hour

$26,620 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level animal caretaker earnings begin at:

$10.90 per hour

$22,680 per year

10th percentile

Starting level animal caretaker earnings begin at:

$8.91 per hour

$18,530 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 23% less than similar careers in Utah. On average, they make less than zoologists but more than veterinary assistants.

Career Median Salary
Zoologist salary $57K
Animal control worker salary $39K
Exterminator salary $38K
Veterinary technologist salary $31K
Animal trainer salary $28K
Animal caretaker salary $27K
Veterinary assistant salary $28K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)