SALARY · ANIMAL CARETAKERS · CALIFORNIA

Animal Caretakers salary in California

You might see a bigger number on a job board. Job boards show what employers post, not what workers actually earn. BLS surveyed real employment for animal caretakers in California and found a median of $38,700 a year, and that survey figure is the one I trust here.

MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY

$38,700

$19 per hour at the median · That is $3,340 (9.4 percent) above the national median of $35,360 for this occupation.

$42,730Mean annual salary
$21Mean hourly wage
$25,710People employed in this job in California

Salary range

25th: $36,810Median: $38,70075th: $45,160
MeasureAnnual
25th percentile$36,810
Median (50th percentile)$38,700
75th percentile$45,160
Mean$42,730

The middle half of workers earned from $36,810 to $45,160 a year. Hourly pay matters if your hours vary. An annual figure can look strong while the hourly rate tells a different story, especially in jobs with seasonal hours or overtime. Check both before you compare two offers.

What stays in your pocket on the median salary

ESTIMATED TAKE-HOME PAY

$32,779 a year
$2,732 a month
Federal tax $2,464 · FICA $2,961 · State tax $496
Read this before you use the take-home figure. It is a single-filer estimate using the 2026 standard deduction. It leaves out credits, other deductions, local taxes, and retirement or health deductions. Your actual paycheck can differ, and for states without a verified 2026 table in this build, state tax is still to be added once its table is verified.

Same job, other states

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