Animal Caretakers pay range in Grand Junction
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,980 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Grand Junction earn between $30,800 and $39,520.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $34KMedian
- $40K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,030 | $3,086 | $17.80 |
| Median | $34,270 | $2,856 | $16.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,800 | $2,567 | $14.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,520 | $3,293 | $19.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Grand Junction vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Grand Junction earn 10% less than the Colorado average ($41,010) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction | $37,030 | $34,270 | $30,800 | $47,980 | 150 |
| Colorado | $41,010 | $37,430 | $32,070 | $55,300 | 6,290 |
| 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 Grand Junction
On the average salary of $37,030, a single filer in Grand Junction takes home about $31,013 a year, or $2,584 a month and $1,193 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Grand Junction a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Junction area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $37,030 buys what about $38,785 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Junction ($48,510). A typical home costs $436,543, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Colorado cities
Grand Junction ranks 7th of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job; Boulder pays the most ($42,340).
- Boulder$42,340
- Denver$41,660
- Colorado Springs$40,210
- Fort Collins$39,570
- Greeley$39,290
- Pueblo$39,110
- Grand Junction$37,030
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 Grand Junction: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Grand Junction?
$17.80 an hour on average, and $16.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Grand Junction?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Grand Junction?
About $31,013 a year ($2,584 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,030. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Grand Junction than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Grand Junction, CO (24300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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