Animal Caretakers pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,060 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Columbus earn between $26,210 and $37,080.
- $23K10th
- $26K25th
- $29KMedian
- $37K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,320 | $2,693 | $15.54 |
| Median | $28,960 | $2,413 | $13.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,210 | $2,184 | $12.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,080 | $3,090 | $17.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Columbus vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Columbus earn about the same as the Indiana average ($31,900) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $32,320 | $28,960 | $23,100 | $42,060 | 80 |
| Indiana | $31,900 | $29,990 | $22,440 | $43,270 | 6,420 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $32,320, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $26,661 a year, or $2,222 a month and $1,025 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 (2025 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Is Columbus a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.0), so the average $32,320 buys what about $34,752 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($48,470). A typical home costs $277,164, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Indiana cities
Columbus ranks 4th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Bloomington pays the most ($33,330).
- Bloomington$33,330
- South Bend$32,920
- Indianapolis$32,430
- Columbus$32,320
- Fort Wayne$32,280
- Evansville$32,160
- Michigan City$31,980
- Elkhart$31,910
- Kokomo$31,370
- Lafayette$31,010
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 Columbus: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Columbus?
$15.54 an hour on average, and $13.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Columbus?
About $26,661 a year ($2,222 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,320. Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less 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 Columbus, IN (18020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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