Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Mayaguez, PR is $26,720/year ($12.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $30K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $26,720 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $530/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $27K get you in Mayaguez?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Mayaguez’s Regional Price Parity (100). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About animal caretakers
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What this looks like in Mayaguez
Pay for animal caretakers in Mayaguez runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $35K. Rent runs $530/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for animal caretakers in metros near Mayaguez, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas | $28K | $28K |
| Ponce | $22K | $22K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mayaguez, PR
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $30K or more, a $8K 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 |
| Michigan | $30K | -14% | 6,290 |
| Nevada | $30K | -14% | 2,470 |
| 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mayaguez numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mayaguez?
Yes — at the median salary of $27K, rent takes 27.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $530/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal caretakers in Mayaguez?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,310/month. At HUD’s $530/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Mayaguez?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $27K here vs. $35K nationally.
How does Mayaguez compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Mayaguez pays $27K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100), the purchasing-power equivalent is $27K — below the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Mayaguez, PR?
The median is $26,720 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,840, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $29,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in Mayaguez?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,959/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $530/month, which eats 27.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a animal caretakers salary go in Mayaguez?
Mayaguez 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 $26,720 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.