Animal Caretakers pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,480 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Bowling Green earn between $28,450 and $33,280.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $30KMedian
- $33K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,100 | $2,592 | $14.95 |
| Median | $29,510 | $2,459 | $14.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,450 | $2,371 | $13.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,280 | $2,773 | $16.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Bowling Green earn 9% less than the Kentucky average ($34,070) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $31,100 | $29,510 | $23,800 | $38,480 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $34,070 | $30,720 | $22,600 | $47,290 | 6,140 |
| 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 Bowling Green
On the average salary of $31,100, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $25,576 a year, or $2,131 a month and $984 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). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $31,100 buys what about $34,487 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($35,770).
- Lexington$35,770
- Paducah$34,560
- Louisville$34,480
- Elizabethtown$33,810
- Owensboro$32,320
- Bowling Green$31,100
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 Bowling Green: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Bowling Green?
$14.95 an hour on average, and $14.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $25,576 a year ($2,131 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,100. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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