Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a animal caretakers in Wisconsin is $30,160/year ($14.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $31,973 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 58.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $30K get you in Wisconsin?
About animal caretakers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for animal caretakers in Wisconsin runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 56.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $34K | +13% | 1,240 |
| Sheboygan | $31K | +3% | 90 |
| Wausau | $30K | +1% | 70 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $30K | +1% | 160 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $30K | +0% | 1,550 |
| Green Bay | $30K | +0% | 310 |
| Appleton | $30K | -0% | 230 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $30K | -1% | 110 |
| Kenosha | $30K | -1% | 110 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $30K | -2% | 110 |
| Eau Claire | $29K | -2% | 140 |
| Fond du Lac | $29K | -4% | 70 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $29K | -5% | 230 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 56.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal caretakers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal caretakers typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,435/month. At HUD’s $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $30K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for animal caretakers?
Wisconsin pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do animal caretakers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $30,160 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,920, and experienced animal caretakers can clear $47,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,137/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 56.2% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $31,973 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.