Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Massachusetts is $39,650/year ($19.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $39,614 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 86.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Massachusetts?
About animal caretakers
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for animal caretakers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 88.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $44K | +10% | 250 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $40K | +1% | 150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $40K | +1% | 5,590 |
| Worcester | $38K | -5% | 660 |
| Pittsfield | $37K | -7% | 120 |
| Springfield | $37K | -8% | 280 |
Compare to other states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 88.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,975/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 119% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is animal caretaker a high-paying job in Massachusetts?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $40K here vs. $35K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Massachusetts pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Massachusetts?
The median is $39,650 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,910, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $64,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,660/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 88.2% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal caretakers salary is worth about $39,614 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.