Animal Caretakers pay range in Waterbury
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,580 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Waterbury earn between $35,270 and $47,970.
- $35K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $48K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,770 | $3,564 | $20.56 |
| Median | $35,740 | $2,978 | $17.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,270 | $2,939 | $16.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,970 | $3,998 | $23.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Waterbury vs. Connecticut and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Waterbury earn about the same as the Connecticut average ($42,710) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury | $42,770 | $35,740 | $34,720 | $62,580 | 270 |
| Connecticut | $42,710 | $37,310 | $35,150 | $62,540 | 3,000 |
| 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 Waterbury
On the average salary of $42,770, a single filer in Waterbury takes home about $35,120 a year, or $2,927 a month and $1,351 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
Is Waterbury a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waterbury area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.8), so the average $42,770 buys what about $42,865 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterbury ($51,440). A typical home costs $290,800, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Connecticut cities
Waterbury ranks 2nd of 5 Connecticut metro areas for this job; Bridgeport pays the most ($44,060).
- Bridgeport$44,060
- Waterbury$42,770
- New Haven$42,750
- Norwich$42,730
- Hartford$41,630
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 Waterbury: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Waterbury?
$20.56 an hour on average, and $17.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Waterbury?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Waterbury?
About $35,120 a year ($2,927 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,770. Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Waterbury than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT (47930). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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