Animal Caretakers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,350 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Durham earn between $29,110 and $37,480.
- $25K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,790 | $2,982 | $17.21 |
| Median | $33,960 | $2,830 | $16.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,110 | $2,426 | $14.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,480 | $3,123 | $18.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Durham earn 6% more than the North Carolina average ($33,870) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $35,790 | $33,960 | $24,530 | $50,350 | 600 |
| North Carolina | $33,870 | $30,870 | $23,210 | $46,120 | 9,730 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $35,790, a single filer in Durham takes home about $30,018 a year, or $2,501 a month and $1,155 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 (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $35,790 buys what about $36,681 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 11.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($35,980).
- Asheville$35,980
- Durham$35,790
- Charlotte$34,990
- Raleigh$34,430
- Winston-Salem$34,050
- Burlington$33,710
- Greensboro$33,420
- Hickory$32,590
- Jacksonville$32,330
- Fayetteville$32,320
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 Durham: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Durham?
$17.21 an hour on average, and $16.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Durham?
About $30,018 a year ($2,501 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,790.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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