Animal Caretakers pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,030 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Lafayette earn between $23,240 and $34,450.
- $22K10th
- $23K25th
- $29KMedian
- $34K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,010 | $2,584 | $14.91 |
| Median | $29,430 | $2,452 | $14.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,240 | $1,937 | $11.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,450 | $2,871 | $16.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Lafayette vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Lafayette earn about the same as the Indiana average ($31,900) and 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $31,010 | $29,430 | $21,500 | $45,030 | 230 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $31,010, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $25,812 a year, or $2,151 a month and $993 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 Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Is Lafayette a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $31,010 buys what about $33,191 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($48,780). A typical home costs $286,179, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Indiana cities
Lafayette ranks 10th 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 Lafayette: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Lafayette?
$14.91 an hour on average, and $14.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $25,812 a year ($2,151 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,010. Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (29200). 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 (2025 rules). Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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