Average Animal Caretakers Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Animal Caretakers is $33,470 per year. The middle 50% earn between $28,870 and $37,160, with 277,300 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 51 states and 384 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Animal Caretakers pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $24,500
- 25th
- $28,870
- Median
- $33,470
- 75th
- $37,160
- 90th
- $46,480
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
This is a lower-wage occupation relative to the US labor market. Pay is below the national median for all workers.
The spread between entry-level and top-end pay is typical for US occupations. Experience and specialization matter, but the range is not unusually wide.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for animal caretakers from 2024 to 2034. Animal Caretakers are projected to grow much faster than average, more than double the roughly 4% growth rate for all US occupations. Demand is strong and outpacing most of the labor market.
- Projected growth
- +12.1%
- 47,600 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 74,600
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings are high relative to the workforce size, reflecting meaningful turnover and new-hire volume.
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
A high-school diploma is typically sufficient for entry, with much of the training happening on the job.
Where Animal Caretakers earn the most
Location matters for pay. The top-paying state is noticeably above the national median, so relocating to a higher-paying market can meaningfully boost earnings. Right now, the top-paying state is Washington at $38,400, about 14.7% above the national median. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with a median of $43,670.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $38,400 | 6,320 |
| District of Columbia | $37,980 | 430 |
| California | $37,200 | 26,200 |
| Massachusetts | $36,910 | 7,470 |
| New York | $36,500 | 11,970 |
| Connecticut | $36,330 | 3,250 |
| Maine | $36,310 | 1,390 |
| Maryland | $35,990 | 6,380 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,670 | 1,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,590 | 3,520 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $39,460 | 3,780 |
| Napa, CA | $38,770 | 110 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $38,420 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,210 | 630 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,920 | 280 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,650 | 210 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see animal caretakers pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Animal Caretakers rose from $24,780 to $33,470, a gain of +35.1% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $24,780 would need to be worth $30,405 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $33,470 is $3,065 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +10.1% in purchasing power.
Real wages have grown strongly, 10.1% above inflation. Workers in this field have meaningfully gained purchasing power.
- Nominal change
- +35.1%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- +10.1%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Animal Caretakers median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $24,780
- 2020
- $26,080
- 2021
- $28,600
- 2022
- $29,530
- 2023
- $31,200
- 2024
- $33,470
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Animal Trainers
- $38,750
- Gambling Dealers
- $33,280
- Funeral Attendants
- $34,610
- Manicurists And Pedicurists
- $34,660
- Childcare Workers
- $32,050
Common salary questions for Animal Caretakers
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Animal Caretakers workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.