Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Nebraska is $31,680/year ($15.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $35,180 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 51.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Nebraska?
About animal caretakers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Nebraska
Animal caretakers pay in Nebraska tracks closely to the national median, $32K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 50.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Nebraska
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $33K | +4% | 1,280 |
| Lincoln | $31K | -2% | 420 |
| Grand Island | $29K | -8% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 50.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal caretakers in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,685/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Nebraska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $32K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Nebraska pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Nebraska?
The median is $31,680 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,080, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $52,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,223/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 50.1% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal caretakers salary is worth about $35,180 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.