Animal Caretakers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,860 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Merced earn between $35,230 and $43,460.
- $35K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $43K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,190 | $3,349 | $19.32 |
| Median | $36,480 | $3,040 | $17.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,230 | $2,936 | $16.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,460 | $3,622 | $20.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Merced earn 6% less than the California average ($42,730) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $40,190 | $36,480 | $34,830 | $49,860 | 80 |
| California | $42,730 | $38,700 | $35,640 | $56,270 | 25,710 |
| 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 Merced
On the average salary of $40,190, a single filer in Merced takes home about $33,729 a year, or $2,811 a month and $1,297 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $40,190 buys what about $40,895 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 22nd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($47,930).
- San Jose$47,930
- San Francisco$46,960
- Yuba City$45,330
- Vallejo$45,130
- Napa$44,720
- Salinas$43,490
- Santa Cruz$43,360
- San Diego$42,970
- Santa Rosa$42,370
- Merced$40,190
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 Merced: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Merced?
$19.32 an hour on average, and $17.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Merced?
About $33,729 a year ($2,811 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,190. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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