Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Rhode Island is $37,120/year ($17.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $36,474 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 60.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Rhode Island?
About animal caretakers
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Animal caretakers pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,544/month, which is 60.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) 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, Rhode Island
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $37K | -2% | 1,450 |
Compare to other states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 60.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,891/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Rhode Island pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Rhode Island?
The median is $37,120 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,510, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $63,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,571/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 60.1% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $36,474 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.