Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Virginia is $34,380/year ($16.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $36,270 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 70.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Virginia?
About animal caretakers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Virginia
Animal caretakers pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $34K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 70% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $35K | +2% | 370 |
| Richmond | $34K | -2% | 1,540 |
| Harrisonburg | $32K | -7% | 140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $31K | -10% | 1,990 |
| Winchester | $30K | -11% | 100 |
| Roanoke | $30K | -13% | 350 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $29K | -16% | 120 |
| Lynchburg | $29K | -16% | 220 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $28K | -18% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 70% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,683/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 98% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $34K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Virginia pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Virginia?
The median is $34,380 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,050, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $46,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,350/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 70% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $36,270 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.