Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Boulder, CO is $37,720/year ($18.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers.
So what does $38K get you in Boulder?
About animal caretakers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for animal caretakers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $38K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $35K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $36K | , |
| Greeley | $36K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Animal Caretakers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $44K | +25% | 460 |
| Washington | $41K | +15% | 6,620 |
| Hawaii | $40K | +13% | 570 |
| Massachusetts | $40K | +12% | 6,900 |
| California | $39K | +9% | 25,710 |
| Arizona | $38K | +8% | 6,330 |
| New York | $38K | +7% | 12,470 |
| Colorado | $37K | +6% | 6,290 |
| Connecticut | $37K | +6% | 3,000 |
| Maine | $37K | +5% | 1,430 |
| Rhode Island | $37K | +5% | 1,020 |
| Maryland | $37K | +4% | 5,570 |
| Alaska | $37K | +4% | 550 |
| Oregon | $37K | +3% | 3,470 |
| Minnesota | $36K | +3% | 4,250 |
| Vermont | $36K | +2% | 430 |
| New Jersey | $36K | +1% | 5,890 |
| Illinois | $36K | +1% | 11,070 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | -2% | 1,810 |
| Utah | $35K | -2% | 2,350 |
| Virginia | $34K | -3% | 10,070 |
| Montana | $34K | -3% | 1,200 |
| Florida | $34K | -3% | 17,210 |
| North Dakota | $34K | -4% | 770 |
| Delaware | $34K | -4% | 1,230 |
| New Mexico | $34K | -5% | 1,710 |
| Texas | $33K | -7% | 20,450 |
| Idaho | $32K | -9% | 1,760 |
| Nebraska | $32K | -10% | 2,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $31K | -11% | 9,910 |
| South Carolina | $31K | -12% | 4,090 |
| Missouri | $31K | -12% | 5,820 |
| North Carolina | $31K | -13% | 9,730 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -13% | 6,140 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -14% | 6,110 |
| South Dakota | $30K | -14% | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $30K | -14% | 2,470 |
| Michigan | $30K | -14% | 6,290 |
| Ohio | $30K | -14% | 9,350 |
| Arkansas | $30K | -15% | 2,040 |
| Wisconsin | $30K | -15% | 5,720 |
| Iowa | $30K | -15% | 3,480 |
| Indiana | $30K | -15% | 6,420 |
| Georgia | $30K | -16% | 9,110 |
| Kansas | $30K | -16% | 3,000 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -18% | 460 |
| Oklahoma | $29K | -18% | 3,170 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -19% | 1,160 |
| Alabama | $28K | -20% | 4,100 |
| Louisiana | $28K | -21% | 2,660 |
| Mississippi | $27K | -24% | 1,900 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 79.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal caretakers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,131/month.
Is animal caretaker a high-paying job in Boulder?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Boulder pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +7%.
How much do animal caretakers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $37,720 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,510, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $60,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,557/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 79.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a animal caretakers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal caretakers salary is worth about $37,720 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do animal caretakers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.