Animal Caretakers pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,610 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Modesto earn between $36,580 and $44,930.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $45K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,120 | $3,510 | $20.25 |
| Median | $38,320 | $3,193 | $18.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,580 | $3,048 | $17.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,930 | $3,744 | $21.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Modesto earn about the same as the California average ($42,730) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $42,120 | $38,320 | $35,920 | $55,610 | 280 |
| 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 Modesto
On the average salary of $42,120, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $35,203 a year, or $2,934 a month and $1,354 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 Modesto a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $42,120 buys what about $40,458 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 12th 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
- Modesto$42,120
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 Modesto: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Modesto?
$20.25 an hour on average, and $18.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Modesto?
About $35,203 a year ($2,934 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,120. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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