Animal Caretakers pay range in Fort Wayne
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,980 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Fort Wayne earn between $26,560 and $36,340.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,280 | $2,690 | $15.52 |
| Median | $29,510 | $2,459 | $14.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,560 | $2,213 | $12.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,340 | $3,028 | $17.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Fort Wayne vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Fort Wayne 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 -17% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $32,280 | $29,510 | $22,560 | $44,980 | 380 |
| 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 Fort Wayne
On the average salary of $32,280, a single filer in Fort Wayne takes home about $26,681 a year, or $2,223 a month and $1,026 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). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Is Fort Wayne a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Wayne area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $32,280 buys what about $34,870 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Wayne ($47,700). A typical home costs $259,816, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Indiana cities
Fort Wayne ranks 5th 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 Fort Wayne: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Fort Wayne?
$15.52 an hour on average, and $14.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Fort Wayne?
About $26,681 a year ($2,223 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,280. Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne, IN (23060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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