Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Tennessee is $30,550/year ($14.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $34,028 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 55.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $31K get you in Tennessee?
About animal caretakers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for animal caretakers in Tennessee runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 54.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for animal caretakerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $33K | +7% | 2,300 |
| Knoxville | $32K | +6% | 840 |
| Clarksville | $31K | +2% | 180 |
| Memphis | $31K | +2% | 850 |
| Jackson | $31K | +1% | 110 |
| Chattanooga | $30K | -1% | 560 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $29K | -4% | 150 |
| Cleveland | $29K | -6% | 120 |
| Johnson City | $28K | -7% | 180 |
| Morristown | $28K | -9% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 54.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,439/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 84% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $31K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Tennessee pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Tennessee?
The median is $30,550 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,980, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $47,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,215/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 54.9% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $34,028 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.