Animal Caretakers pay range in Fairbanks
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,090 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Fairbanks earn between $33,650 and $48,530.
- $28K10th
- $34K25th
- $38KMedian
- $49K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,340 | $3,528 | $20.36 |
| Median | $37,800 | $3,150 | $18.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,650 | $2,804 | $16.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,530 | $4,044 | $23.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Fairbanks vs. Alaska and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Fairbanks earn 5% more than the Alaska average ($40,460) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | $42,340 | $37,800 | $28,090 | $61,090 | 80 |
| Alaska | $40,460 | $36,640 | $27,030 | $58,400 | 550 |
| United States | $37,300 | $35,360 | $27,250 | $50,060 | 266,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Animal Caretakers salary after taxes in Fairbanks
On the average salary of $42,340, a single filer in Fairbanks takes home about $36,200 a year, or $3,017 a month and $1,392 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
Is Fairbanks a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fairbanks area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $42,340 buys what about $41,024 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fairbanks ($61,810). A typical home costs $312,179, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Alaska cities
Fairbanks ranks 1st of 2 Alaska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fairbanks$42,340
- Anchorage$39,630
Highest-paying cities for animal caretakers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,930).
- San Jose, CA$47,930
- Seattle, WA$47,810
- San Francisco, CA$46,960
- Phoenix, AZ$46,050
- Barnstable, MA$45,910
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Animal Caretakers salary in Fairbanks: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Fairbanks?
$20.35 an hour on average, and $18.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Fairbanks?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Fairbanks?
About $36,200 a year ($3,017 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,340. Alaska has no state income tax; Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Fairbanks than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($37,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-2021; area Fairbanks-College, AK (21820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Alaska's employee unemployment-insurance contribution is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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