Animal Caretakers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,040 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Rochester earn between $32,390 and $48,050.
- $29K10th
- $32K25th
- $38KMedian
- $48K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,120 | $3,427 | $19.77 |
| Median | $37,850 | $3,154 | $18.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,390 | $2,699 | $15.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,050 | $4,004 | $23.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Rochester earn 7% more than the Minnesota average ($38,320) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $41,120 | $37,850 | $29,440 | $57,040 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $38,320 | $36,430 | $29,440 | $48,050 | 4,250 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $41,120, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $33,839 a year, or $2,820 a month and $1,301 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $41,120 buys what about $45,276 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 1st of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Rochester$41,120
- Minneapolis$39,340
- Mankato$36,780
- St. Cloud$36,060
- Duluth$34,910
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 Rochester: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Rochester?
$19.77 an hour on average, and $18.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $33,839 a year ($2,820 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,120. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more 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 Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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