Animal Control Workers Salary
The median pay for a animal control workers in New Jersey is $52,050/year ($25.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $52,396 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 60.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $52K get you in New Jersey?
About animal control workers
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for animal control workers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 58.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level animal control workers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track animal control workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal control worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 58.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal control workers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,213/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 93% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $52K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for animal control workers?
New Jersey pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal control workers make in New Jersey?
The median is $52,050 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,890, and experienced animal control workers can clear $81,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,540/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 58.4% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $52,396 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.