Animal Control Workers Salary
The median pay for a animal control workers in Alabama is $37,340/year ($17.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $42,259 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 42.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Alabama?
About animal control workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for animal control workers in Alabama runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,085/month, which is 42.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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 control workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level animal control workers (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Control Workers salary by metro in Alabama
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $38K | +1% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track animal control workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a animal control worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 42.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/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 control workers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal control workers typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,673/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 65% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is animal control worker a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $37K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for animal control workers?
Alabama pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do animal control workers make in Alabama?
The median is $37,340 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,880, and experienced animal control workers can clear $54,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,528/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 42.9% 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 control workers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (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 control workers salary is worth about $42,259 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do animal control workers 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.