Animal Caretakers Salary by State
The national median pay for animal caretakers is $35,360 a year. By state, it ranges from $26,970 in Mississippi to $44,210 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $27,250
- 25th percentile
- $29,820
- Median
- $35,360
- 75th percentile
- $40,050
- Top 10%
- $50,060
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 266,910 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $44,210 | +25% | $37,840 | $64,300 | 460 |
| 2 | Washington | $40,570 | +15% | $36,100 | $64,580 | 6,620 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $40,130 | +13% | $31,100 | $66,200 | 570 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $39,650 | +12% | $32,910 | $64,060 | 6,900 |
| 5 | California | $38,700 | +9% | $35,640 | $56,270 | 25,710 |
| 6 | Arizona | $38,180 | +8% | $33,320 | $68,090 | 6,330 |
| 7 | New York | $37,840 | +7% | $33,800 | $48,740 | 12,470 |
| 8 | Colorado | $37,430 | +6% | $32,070 | $55,300 | 6,290 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $37,310 | +6% | $35,150 | $62,540 | 3,000 |
| 10 | Maine | $37,230 | +5% | $31,360 | $48,530 | 1,430 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $37,120 | +5% | $31,510 | $63,120 | 1,020 |
| 12 | Maryland | $36,780 | +4% | $31,500 | $56,730 | 5,570 |
| 13 | Alaska | $36,640 | +4% | $27,030 | $58,400 | 550 |
| 14 | Oregon | $36,580 | +3% | $33,510 | $54,510 | 3,470 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,430 | +3% | $29,440 | $48,050 | 4,250 |
| 16 | Vermont | $36,090 | +2% | $31,990 | $47,360 | 430 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $35,850 | +1% | $32,220 | $49,620 | 5,890 |
| 18 | Illinois | $35,570 | +1% | $31,200 | $50,160 | 11,070 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $34,790 | −2% | $27,830 | $51,040 | 1,810 |
| 20 | Utah | $34,750 | −2% | $26,310 | $56,730 | 2,350 |
| 21 | Virginia | $34,380 | −3% | $28,050 | $46,180 | 10,070 |
| 22 | Montana | $34,210 | −3% | $26,170 | $49,080 | 1,200 |
| 23 | Florida | $34,150 | −3% | $28,950 | $50,140 | 17,210 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $34,040 | −4% | $29,960 | $62,170 | 770 |
| 25 | Delaware | $33,910 | −4% | $31,200 | $42,500 | 1,230 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $33,570 | −5% | $27,980 | $44,020 | 1,710 |
| 27 | Texas | $32,730 | −7% | $23,260 | $49,660 | 20,450 |
| 28 | Idaho | $32,170 | −9% | $22,000 | $46,990 | 1,760 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $31,680 | −10% | $28,080 | $52,010 | 2,100 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $31,360 | −11% | $23,430 | $47,960 | 9,910 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $31,280 | −12% | $22,880 | $46,160 | 4,090 |
| 32 | Missouri | $31,230 | −12% | $28,600 | $44,930 | 5,820 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $30,870 | −13% | $23,210 | $46,120 | 9,730 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $30,720 | −13% | $22,600 | $47,290 | 6,140 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $30,550 | −14% | $23,980 | $47,020 | 6,110 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $30,390 | −14% | $27,260 | $44,960 | 1,110 |
| 37 | Michigan | $30,320 | −14% | $27,770 | $45,480 | 6,290 |
| 38 | Nevada | $30,320 | −14% | $27,280 | $51,040 | 2,470 |
| 39 | Ohio | $30,310 | −14% | $24,130 | $49,450 | 9,350 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $30,230 | −15% | $27,290 | $47,990 | 2,040 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $30,160 | −15% | $23,920 | $47,700 | 5,720 |
| 42 | Iowa | $30,080 | −15% | $22,450 | $45,610 | 3,480 |
| 43 | Indiana | $29,990 | −15% | $22,440 | $43,270 | 6,420 |
| 44 | Georgia | $29,860 | −16% | $21,370 | $47,260 | 9,110 |
| 45 | Kansas | $29,830 | −16% | $21,720 | $49,450 | 3,000 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $29,080 | −18% | $21,330 | $50,290 | 460 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $28,940 | −18% | $21,320 | $43,880 | 3,170 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $28,550 | −19% | $22,050 | $44,810 | 1,160 |
| 49 | Alabama | $28,330 | −20% | $21,740 | $45,860 | 4,100 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $27,910 | −21% | $21,600 | $40,000 | 2,660 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $26,970 | −24% | $21,160 | $36,970 | 1,900 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Animal Caretakers salary questions
Which state pays animal caretakers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $44,210 a year (+25% vs. the national median of $35,360). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays animal caretakers the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $26,970 a year (−24% vs. national).
Where do most animal caretakers work?
California has the most jobs, about 25,710, with a median of $38,700.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.