Animal Caretakers pay range in Niles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,540 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Niles earn between $28,340 and $32,130.
- $28K10th
- $28K25th
- $30KMedian
- $32K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,700 | $2,642 | $15.24 |
| Median | $29,870 | $2,489 | $14.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,340 | $2,362 | $13.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,130 | $2,678 | $15.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Niles vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Niles earn 6% less than the Michigan average ($33,850) and 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niles | $31,700 | $29,870 | $27,770 | $36,540 | 140 |
| 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 Niles
On the average salary of $31,700, a single filer in Niles takes home about $26,550 a year, or $2,213 a month and $1,021 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Niles a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Niles area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $31,700 buys what about $34,319 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Niles ($45,980). A typical home costs $282,443, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Michigan cities
Niles ranks 12th 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
- Niles$31,700
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 Niles: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Niles?
$15.24 an hour on average, and $14.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Niles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Niles?
About $26,550 a year ($2,213 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,700.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Niles than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Niles, MI (35660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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