Animal Caretakers pay range in Cedar Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,910 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Cedar Rapids earn between $25,700 and $34,100.
- $22K10th
- $26K25th
- $29KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,210 | $2,601 | $15.00 |
| Median | $29,190 | $2,432 | $14.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,700 | $2,142 | $12.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,100 | $2,842 | $16.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Cedar Rapids vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Cedar Rapids earn 5% less than the Iowa average ($32,900) and 16% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $31,210 | $29,190 | $22,080 | $36,910 | 340 |
| Iowa | $32,900 | $30,080 | $22,450 | $45,610 | 3,480 |
| 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 Cedar Rapids
On the average salary of $31,210, a single filer in Cedar Rapids takes home about $26,683 a year, or $2,224 a month and $1,026 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Cedar Rapids a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cedar Rapids area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.0), so the average $31,210 buys what about $35,082 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Cedar Rapids ($49,360). A typical home costs $244,344, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Iowa cities
Cedar Rapids ranks 6th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Ames pays the most ($39,820).
- Ames$39,820
- Iowa City$36,350
- Davenport$34,640
- Des Moines$34,550
- Sioux City$31,560
- Cedar Rapids$31,210
- Waterloo$31,210
- Dubuque$30,660
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 Cedar Rapids: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Cedar Rapids?
$15.00 an hour on average, and $14.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Cedar Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Cedar Rapids?
About $26,683 a year ($2,224 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,210. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Cedar Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Cedar Rapids, IA (16300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.42, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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