Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Oregon is $36,580/year ($17.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $35,709 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,555/month, about 61.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Oregon?
About animal caretakers
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What this looks like in Oregon
Animal caretakers pay in Oregon tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,555/month, which is 64.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Oregon
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $37K | +2% | 2,240 |
| Salem | $37K | +1% | 230 |
| Corvallis | $36K | -2% | 120 |
| Bend | $36K | -2% | 280 |
| Medford | $36K | -2% | 150 |
| Grants Pass | $36K | -2% | 50 |
| Albany | $35K | -5% | 100 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $35K | -5% | 290 |
Compare to other states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 64.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/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 Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,011/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 Oregon?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Oregon pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Oregon?
The median is $36,580 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,510, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $54,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,396/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 64.9% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (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 $35,709 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.