Animal Caretakers pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,810 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Las Cruces earn between $27,170 and $35,100.
- $27K10th
- $27K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,710 | $2,726 | $15.73 |
| Median | $30,160 | $2,513 | $14.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,170 | $2,264 | $13.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,100 | $2,925 | $16.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Las Cruces earn 7% less than the New Mexico average ($35,050) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $32,710 | $30,160 | $26,830 | $36,810 | 160 |
| New Mexico | $35,050 | $33,570 | $27,980 | $44,020 | 1,710 |
| 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 Las Cruces
On the average salary of $32,710, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $28,023 a year, or $2,335 a month and $1,078 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Las Cruces a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $32,710 buys what about $36,259 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other New Mexico cities
Las Cruces ranks 3rd of 3 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($38,080).
- Santa Fe$38,080
- Albuquerque$34,910
- Las Cruces$32,710
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 Las Cruces: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Las Cruces?
$15.73 an hour on average, and $14.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $28,023 a year ($2,335 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,710.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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