Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Agricultural Workers, All Other vs. Animal Caretakers: Who Earns More?

Agricultural Workers, All Other out-earn Animal Caretakers by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Agricultural Workers, All Other land at $39,850 and Animal Caretakers at $35,360. The education gap is real: agricultural workers, all other programs typically require no formal educational credential, while animal caretaker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Agricultural Workers, All Other is California ($53,090); for Animal Caretakers it's District of Columbia ($44,210).

Agricultural Workers, All Other
Animal Caretakers
Median salary
$39,850
$35,360
Hourly rate
$19.16/hr
$17/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$27,760
$27,250
Senior level (90th %)
$76,940
$50,060
Education required
No formal educational credential
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
3,620
266,910
Job growth (10-year)
2.3%
12.1%
Category
Farming & Fishing
Personal Care
Top-paying state
California
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Agricultural Workers, All Other median pay.

State
Agricultural Workers, All Other
Animal Caretakers
California
$53,090
$38,700
Hawaii
$46,650
$40,130
Washington
$43,930
$40,570
North Carolina
$43,790
$30,870
Arizona
$43,350
$38,180
Montana
$42,130
$34,210
Kentucky
$39,970
$30,720
Texas
$39,570
$32,730
Oregon
$38,930
$36,580
Idaho
$38,790
$32,170
Maryland
$37,680
$36,780
Pennsylvania
$33,570
$31,360
Florida
$33,280
$34,150
Tennessee
$33,080
$30,550
Michigan
$28,950
$30,320

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Workers, All Other or Animal Caretakers?

Agricultural Workers, All Other earn more nationally. The median is $39,850 for Agricultural Workers, All Other versus $35,360 for Animal Caretakers, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Agricultural Workers, All Other or Animal Caretakers?

Animal Caretakers has the better 10-year outlook at 12.1% projected growth, compared to 2.3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Agricultural Workers, All Other or Animal Caretakers?

Agricultural Workers, All Other 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 Workers, All Other get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Agricultural Workers, All Other at $53,090/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Agricultural Workers, All Other vs. Animal Caretakers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Agricultural Workers, All Other earn $53,090 vs. $38,700 for Animal Caretakers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Agricultural Workers, All Other salary breakdownView →Full Animal Caretakers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Agricultural Workers, All Other by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Animal Caretakers by take-home payExplore →How to become a agricultural workers, all otherGuide →How to become a animal caretakersGuide →