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Salary comparison

Agricultural Inspectors vs. Animal Caretakers: Who Earns More?

Agricultural Inspectorss out-earn Animal Caretakerss by $18K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Agricultural Inspectorss land at $50,990 and Animal Caretakerss at $33,470. The education gap is real: agricultural inspector programs typically require no formal educational credential, while animal caretaker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Agricultural Inspectorss is Michigan ($72,300); for Animal Caretakerss it's Washington ($38,400).

Agricultural Inspectors
Animal Caretakers
Median salary
$50,990
$33,470
Hourly rate
$24.51/hr
$16.09/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,440
$24,500
Senior level (90th %)
$80,240
$46,480
Education required
No formal educational credential
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
12,090
277,300
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Farming & Fishing
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Michigan
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Agricultural Inspectors median pay.

State
Agricultural Inspectors
Animal Caretakers
New York
$71,710
$36,500
Minnesota
$68,330
$33,790
Washington
$62,560
$38,400
Vermont
$61,080
$35,600
Hawaii
$60,900
$34,410
New Jersey
$59,510
$34,530
Maryland
$57,200
$35,990
Illinois
$54,720
$34,440
Oregon
$53,090
$35,310
California
$51,490
$37,200
Utah
$51,330
$31,550
Montana
$50,360
$32,290
Maine
$49,440
$36,310
Massachusetts
$46,470
$36,910
Arizona
$44,100
$35,170

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Inspectorss or Animal Caretakerss?

Agricultural Inspectorss earn more nationally. The median is $50,990 for Agricultural Inspectorss versus $33,470 for Animal Caretakerss, a difference of $18K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Inspectors or Animal Caretakers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Agricultural Inspectors or Animal Caretakers?

Agricultural Inspectors typically requires no formal educational credential. Animal Caretakers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Agricultural Inspectorss get paid the most?

Michigan is the top-paying state for Agricultural Inspectorss at $72,300/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Agricultural Inspectors vs. Animal Caretakers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Agricultural Inspectorss earn $71,710 vs. $36,500 for Animal Caretakerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Inspectors salary breakdownView →Full Animal Caretakers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Inspectorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Animal Caretakerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural inspectorsGuide →How to become a animal caretakersGuide →