Animal Control Workers Salary
The median pay for a animal control workers in Columbia, SC is $41,740/year ($20.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $44,565 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month, about 44.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About animal control workers
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What this looks like in Columbia
Animal control workers pay in Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,276/month, which is 44.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for animal control workers in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $35K | $38K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $43K | $43K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $46K | $48K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $48K | $49K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level animal control workers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $7K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Control Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Animal Control Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $66K | +46% | 180 |
| Oregon | $66K | +45% | 40 |
| Alaska | $63K | +39% | 30 |
| California | $63K | +37% | 1,210 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +33% | 280 |
| Nevada | $59K | +29% | 100 |
| Colorado | $58K | +28% | 170 |
| Connecticut | $57K | +25% | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +21% | 70 |
| Iowa | $54K | +19% | 80 |
| Wyoming | $54K | +18% | 40 |
| Maryland | $53K | +17% | 140 |
| New Jersey | $52K | +14% | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | +14% | N/A |
| Montana | $51K | +11% | 50 |
| Maine | $50K | +9% | 90 |
| Virginia | $49K | +7% | 430 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +7% | 60 |
| New York | $48K | +6% | 870 |
| Michigan | $48K | +6% | 260 |
| Arizona | $48K | +4% | 210 |
| Utah | $47K | +3% | 200 |
| Florida | $46K | +0% | 640 |
| South Dakota | $46K | -0% | 50 |
| Ohio | $45K | -1% | 290 |
| North Carolina | $44K | -4% | 460 |
| Idaho | $44K | -4% | 50 |
| Texas | $43K | -5% | 1,300 |
| Indiana | $43K | -6% | 340 |
| Tennessee | $43K | -6% | 280 |
| Illinois | $42K | -7% | 410 |
| Missouri | $42K | -9% | 440 |
| Kansas | $40K | -13% | 190 |
| Georgia | $40K | -13% | 430 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -15% | 180 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -17% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $38K | -17% | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -18% | 380 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -18% | 120 |
| Alabama | $37K | -18% | 290 |
| Kentucky | $35K | -23% | 190 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -23% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -24% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $34K | -25% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track animal control workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a animal control worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 44.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal control workers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,241/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for animal control workers?
Columbia pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do animal control workers make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $41,740 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,350, and experienced animal control workers can clear $44,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,878/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 44.3% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (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 $44,565 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.