Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in North Dakota is $34,040/year ($16.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $38,295 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,034/month, about 43.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in North Dakota?
About animal caretakers
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Animal caretakers pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $34K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,034/month, which is 43.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, North Dakota
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in North Dakota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | $36K | +5% | 50 |
| Bismarck | $34K | +1% | 170 |
| Fargo | $34K | +0% | 390 |
| Grand Forks | $33K | -2% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 43.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/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 North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,798/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $34K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
North Dakota pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in North Dakota?
The median is $34,040 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,960, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $62,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,394/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 43.2% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $38,295 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.