Animal Caretakers pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,090 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Grand Rapids earn between $28,900 and $36,030.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,750 | $2,812 | $16.23 |
| Median | $29,630 | $2,469 | $14.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,900 | $2,408 | $13.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,030 | $3,002 | $17.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Grand Rapids vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Grand Rapids earn about the same as the Michigan average ($33,850) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $33,750 | $29,630 | $28,130 | $46,090 | 680 |
| Michigan | $33,850 | $30,320 | $27,770 | $45,480 | 6,290 |
| 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 Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $33,750, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $27,691 a year, or $2,308 a month and $1,065 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 (2025 rules). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Rapids area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $33,750 buys what about $35,323 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 10.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 6th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Battle Creek pays the most ($35,740).
- Battle Creek$35,740
- Detroit$34,770
- Traverse City$34,610
- Ann Arbor$34,130
- Lansing$34,120
- Grand Rapids$33,750
- Flint$33,120
- Kalamazoo$33,040
- Saginaw$32,740
- Jackson$32,510
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 Grand Rapids: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Grand Rapids?
$16.23 an hour on average, and $14.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $27,691 a year ($2,308 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,750. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Grand Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). 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 Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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