Animal Caretakers pay range in Fayetteville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,630 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Fayetteville earn between $29,700 and $36,270.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $34KMedian
- $36K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,580 | $2,965 | $17.11 |
| Median | $33,900 | $2,825 | $16.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,700 | $2,475 | $14.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,270 | $3,022 | $17.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Fayetteville vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Fayetteville earn 4% more than the Arkansas average ($34,110) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $35,580 | $33,900 | $28,980 | $49,630 | 660 |
| Arkansas | $34,110 | $30,230 | $27,290 | $47,990 | 2,040 |
| 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 Fayetteville
On the average salary of $35,580, a single filer in Fayetteville takes home about $29,940 a year, or $2,495 a month and $1,152 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Is Fayetteville a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fayetteville area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.4), so the average $35,580 buys what about $38,948 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Fayetteville ($46,610). A typical home costs $368,497, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Arkansas cities
Fayetteville ranks 1st of 5 Arkansas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fayetteville$35,580
- Fort Smith$33,730
- Little Rock$33,260
- Jonesboro$33,220
- Hot Springs$32,300
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 Fayetteville: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Fayetteville?
$17.11 an hour on average, and $16.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Fayetteville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Fayetteville?
About $29,940 a year ($2,495 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,580. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Fayetteville than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR (22220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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