Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Animal caretakers (SOC 39-2021) employed 266,910 people in May 2025. The median pay is $35,360 a year ($17.00 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,250 and the highest-paid 10% more than $50,060. BLS projects its employment to change by +12.1% between 2025 and 2035 (about 62,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($44,210), Washington ($40,570), Hawaii ($40,130). Most jobs: California (25,710), Texas (20,450), Florida (17,210).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| 25th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Mean | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| 75th percentile | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $50,060 | $24.07 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 365,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 409,400 |
| Change in jobs | 44,100 |
| Percent change | +12.1% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 62,800 |
| Self-employed share | 24.8% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4,100 | 1.13 | $28,330 | $21,740 | $45,860 | -20% | 46% |
| Alaska | 550 | 0.99 | $36,640 | $27,030 | $58,400 | +4% | 47% |
| Arizona | 6,330 | 1.14 | $38,180 | $33,320 | $68,090 | +8% | 53% |
| Arkansas | 2,040 | 0.91 | $30,230 | $27,290 | $47,990 | -15% | 39% |
| California | 25,710 | 0.82 | $38,700 | $35,640 | $56,270 | +9% | 65% |
| Colorado | 6,290 | 1.27 | $37,430 | $32,070 | $55,300 | +6% | 58% |
| Connecticut | 3,000 | 1.03 | $37,310 | $35,150 | $62,540 | +6% | 50% |
| Delaware | 1,230 | 1.48 | $33,910 | $31,200 | $42,500 | -4% | 54% |
| District of Columbia | 460 | 0.38 | $44,210 | $37,840 | $64,300 | +25% | 52% |
| Florida | 17,210 | 1.01 | $34,150 | $28,950 | $50,140 | -3% | 64% |
| Georgia | 9,110 | 1.09 | $29,860 | $21,370 | $47,260 | -16% | 61% |
| Hawaii | 570 | 0.53 | $40,130 | $31,100 | $66,200 | +13% | 58% |
| Idaho | 1,760 | 1.20 | $32,170 | $22,000 | $46,990 | -9% | 52% |
| Illinois | 11,070 | 1.06 | $35,570 | $31,200 | $50,160 | +1% | 45% |
| Indiana | 6,420 | 1.17 | $29,990 | $22,440 | $43,270 | -15% | 44% |
| Iowa | 3,480 | 1.30 | $30,080 | $22,450 | $45,610 | -15% | 39% |
| Kansas | 3,000 | 1.22 | $29,830 | $21,720 | $49,450 | -16% | 43% |
| Kentucky | 6,140 | 1.79 | $30,720 | $22,600 | $47,290 | -13% | 39% |
| Louisiana | 2,660 | 0.80 | $27,910 | $21,600 | $40,000 | -21% | 46% |
| Maine | 1,430 | 1.30 | $37,230 | $31,360 | $48,530 | +5% | 39% |
| Maryland | 5,570 | 1.17 | $36,780 | $31,500 | $56,730 | +4% | 56% |
| Massachusetts | 6,900 | 1.11 | $39,650 | $32,910 | $64,060 | +12% | 56% |
| Michigan | 6,290 | 0.83 | $30,320 | $27,770 | $45,480 | -14% | 46% |
| Minnesota | 4,250 | 0.84 | $36,430 | $29,440 | $48,050 | +3% | 43% |
| Mississippi | 1,900 | 0.95 | $26,970 | $21,160 | $36,970 | -24% | 44% |
| Missouri | 5,820 | 1.15 | $31,230 | $28,600 | $44,930 | -12% | 41% |
| Montana | 1,200 | 1.37 | $34,210 | $26,170 | $49,080 | -3% | 41% |
| Nebraska | 2,100 | 1.19 | $31,680 | $28,080 | $52,010 | -10% | 42% |
| Nevada | 2,470 | 0.93 | $30,320 | $27,280 | $51,040 | -14% | 68% |
| New Hampshire | 1,810 | 1.54 | $34,790 | $27,830 | $51,040 | -2% | 54% |
| New Jersey | 5,890 | 0.80 | $35,850 | $32,220 | $49,620 | +1% | 60% |
| New Mexico | 1,710 | 1.14 | $33,570 | $27,980 | $44,020 | -5% | 40% |
| New York | 12,470 | 0.75 | $37,840 | $33,800 | $48,740 | +7% | 52% |
| North Carolina | 9,730 | 1.15 | $30,870 | $23,210 | $46,120 | -13% | 52% |
| North Dakota | 770 | 1.05 | $34,040 | $29,960 | $62,170 | -4% | 35% |
| Ohio | 9,350 | 0.98 | $30,310 | $24,130 | $49,450 | -14% | 43% |
| Oklahoma | 3,170 | 1.08 | $28,940 | $21,320 | $43,880 | -18% | 43% |
| Oregon | 3,470 | 1.03 | $36,580 | $33,510 | $54,510 | +3% | 52% |
| Pennsylvania | 9,910 | 0.95 | $31,360 | $23,430 | $47,960 | -11% | 48% |
| Rhode Island | 1,020 | 1.19 | $37,120 | $31,510 | $63,120 | +5% | 46% |
| South Carolina | 4,090 | 1.03 | $31,280 | $22,880 | $46,160 | -12% | 49% |
| South Dakota | 1,110 | 1.42 | $30,390 | $27,260 | $44,960 | -14% | 39% |
| Tennessee | 6,110 | 1.08 | $30,550 | $23,980 | $47,020 | -14% | 50% |
| Texas | 20,450 | 0.85 | $32,730 | $23,260 | $49,660 | -7% | 54% |
| Utah | 2,350 | 0.79 | $34,750 | $26,310 | $56,730 | -2% | 55% |
| Vermont | 430 | 0.83 | $36,090 | $31,990 | $47,360 | +2% | 44% |
| Virginia | 10,070 | 1.43 | $34,380 | $28,050 | $46,180 | -3% | 57% |
| Washington | 6,620 | 1.09 | $40,570 | $36,100 | $64,580 | +15% | 54% |
| West Virginia | 1,160 | 0.96 | $28,550 | $22,050 | $44,810 | -19% | 37% |
| Wisconsin | 5,720 | 1.13 | $30,160 | $23,920 | $47,700 | -15% | 45% |
| Wyoming | 460 | 0.95 | $29,080 | $21,330 | $50,290 | -18% | 41% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,090 | $44,070 | $39,670 | $61,740 | 0.56 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,950 | $44,060 | $37,040 | $66,560 | 1.10 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,440 | $43,640 | $38,570 | $60,840 | 0.85 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,590 | $39,850 | $31,210 | $66,560 | 1.20 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4,480 | $39,030 | $34,650 | $77,080 | 1.10 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 600 | $38,840 | $35,990 | $53,620 | 1.69 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 850 | $38,580 | $35,230 | $50,160 | 1.72 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,000 | $38,520 | $35,590 | $51,630 | 0.84 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 920 | $38,180 | $36,610 | $62,920 | 1.33 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 380 | $37,970 | $35,460 | $50,370 | 1.09 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,430 | $37,900 | $34,230 | $51,790 | 0.70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,030 | $37,870 | $35,990 | $58,940 | 1.15 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,510 | $37,780 | $36,050 | $53,680 | 0.81 |
| Boulder, CO | 490 | $37,720 | $35,510 | $60,050 | 1.47 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,590 | $37,710 | $30,160 | $55,020 | 1.22 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 410 | $37,650 | $35,400 | $58,940 | 0.93 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3,560 | $37,640 | $35,580 | $55,300 | 1.29 |
| Worcester, MA | 660 | $37,590 | $34,130 | $57,070 | 1.10 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,240 | $37,370 | $35,480 | $58,790 | 1.08 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 370 | $37,290 | $31,030 | $66,200 | 0.48 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 300 | $37,120 | $34,970 | $49,720 | 0.59 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,170 | $37,050 | $34,980 | $48,760 | 0.74 |
| Tucson, AZ | 950 | $36,870 | $31,560 | $63,280 | 1.42 |
| New Haven, CT | 330 | $36,790 | $35,570 | $61,190 | 0.67 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,760 | $36,780 | $30,850 | $47,180 | 0.82 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 310 | $36,660 | $34,320 | $46,310 | 0.53 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 520 | $36,620 | $35,610 | $48,810 | 0.93 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,450 | $36,500 | $31,510 | $61,550 | 1.19 |
| Anchorage, AK | 330 | $36,490 | $27,480 | $51,390 | 1.09 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,040 | $36,470 | $35,250 | $60,520 | 1.01 |
| Fresno, CA | 540 | $36,430 | $34,730 | $59,440 | 0.66 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 540 | $36,360 | $33,130 | $47,810 | 1.16 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,510 | $36,110 | $31,200 | $55,770 | 1.10 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 350 | $35,860 | $31,660 | $55,430 | 1.19 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 880 | $35,640 | $32,240 | $47,650 | 1.15 |
| Syracuse, NY | 470 | $35,500 | $32,240 | $46,840 | 0.92 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,620 | $35,420 | $31,500 | $55,120 | 1.12 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 770 | $35,220 | $31,700 | $68,150 | 1.43 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 370 | $35,190 | $28,870 | $46,070 | 1.88 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,820 | $35,160 | $29,520 | $59,400 | 0.79 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,510 | $35,040 | $27,580 | $50,260 | 1.13 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 730 | $35,000 | $24,760 | $47,670 | 1.08 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 310 | $34,970 | $29,400 | $48,990 | 1.05 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,480 | $34,970 | $28,670 | $49,380 | 1.10 |
| Rochester, NY | 730 | $34,950 | $32,240 | $45,270 | 0.86 |
| Ocala, FL | 600 | $34,930 | $28,200 | $46,980 | 2.88 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 800 | $34,840 | $32,240 | $45,950 | 0.87 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 3,020 | $34,830 | $29,020 | $50,590 | 1.24 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,010 | $34,800 | $28,090 | $49,710 | 0.71 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 2,400 | $34,590 | $23,540 | $47,370 | 4.88 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 2,400 | $34,490 | $29,320 | $49,870 | 0.97 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 6,110 | $34,310 | $27,040 | $50,180 | 0.88 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 420 | $34,300 | $28,710 | $52,130 | 1.38 |
| Madison, WI | 1,240 | $34,160 | $27,760 | $58,680 | 1.77 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 390 | $34,040 | $28,670 | $61,430 | 1.54 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 600 | $33,960 | $24,530 | $50,350 | 1.02 |
| Reno, NV | 480 | $33,950 | $28,160 | $52,420 | 1.01 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 660 | $33,900 | $28,980 | $49,630 | 1.40 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,540 | $33,710 | $28,150 | $46,770 | 1.35 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 520 | $33,610 | $22,410 | $51,840 | 3.13 |
The median is $35,360 a year ($17.00 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $27,250 and the highest-paid tenth over $50,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
266,910 in May 2025, and BLS projects +12.1% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $44,210 (among states with published figures).