Animal Caretakers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,840 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in San Francisco earn between $40,780 and $47,630.
- $39K10th
- $41K25th
- $44KMedian
- $48K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,960 | $3,913 | $22.58 |
| Median | $43,640 | $3,637 | $20.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,780 | $3,398 | $19.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,630 | $3,969 | $22.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in San Francisco earn 10% more than the California average ($42,730) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $46,960 | $43,640 | $38,570 | $60,840 | 3,440 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $46,960, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $38,898 a year, or $3,242 a month and $1,496 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 San Francisco a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $46,960 buys what about $40,618 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 24.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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
- San Luis Obispo$42,350
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 San Francisco: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in San Francisco?
$22.58 an hour on average, and $20.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $38,898 a year ($3,242 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,960. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). 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 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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