Animal Caretakers pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,060 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Paducah earn between $28,840 and $38,410.
- $22K10th
- $29K25th
- $31KMedian
- $38K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,560 | $2,880 | $16.62 |
| Median | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,840 | $2,403 | $13.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,410 | $3,201 | $18.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Paducah earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($34,070) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $34,560 | $31,200 | $21,850 | $50,060 | 60 |
| 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 Paducah
On the average salary of $34,560, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $28,166 a year, or $2,347 a month and $1,083 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $28,379 | $2,365 |
| Working in KY | $28,166 | $2,347 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $34,560 buys what about $40,147 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 2nd 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 Paducah: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Paducah?
$16.61 an hour on average, and $15.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Paducah?
About $28,166 a year ($2,347 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,560. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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