Animal Caretakers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,270 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Rochester earn between $32,290 and $36,590.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,160 | $3,097 | $17.87 |
| Median | $34,950 | $2,912 | $16.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,290 | $2,691 | $15.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,590 | $3,049 | $17.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Rochester earn 8% less than the New York average ($40,540) and about the same as the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $37,160 | $34,950 | $32,240 | $45,270 | 730 |
| New York | $40,540 | $37,840 | $33,800 | $48,740 | 12,470 |
| 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 $37,160, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $30,599 a year, or $2,550 a month and $1,177 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $37,160 buys what about $38,295 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 10th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($41,480).
- New York$41,480
- Kiryas Joel$39,870
- Kingston$38,270
- Ithaca$38,220
- Albany$38,080
- Syracuse$38,050
- Glens Falls$37,710
- Buffalo$37,430
- Utica$37,350
- Rochester$37,160
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?
$17.87 an hour on average, and $16.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $30,599 a year ($2,550 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,160. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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