Animal Caretakers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,790 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Portland earn between $36,110 and $45,120.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $45K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,370 | $3,531 | $20.37 |
| Median | $37,370 | $3,114 | $17.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,110 | $3,009 | $17.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,120 | $3,760 | $21.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Portland earn 5% more than the Oregon average ($40,380) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $42,370 | $37,370 | $35,480 | $58,790 | 2,240 |
| Oregon | $40,380 | $36,580 | $33,510 | $54,510 | 3,470 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $42,370, a single filer in Portland takes home about $33,329 a year, or $2,777 a month and $1,282 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $36,224 | $3,019 |
| Working in OR | $33,329 | $2,777 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $42,370 buys what about $40,191 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 13.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 2nd of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job; Medford pays the most ($42,410).
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 Portland: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Portland?
$20.37 an hour on average, and $17.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Portland?
About $33,329 a year ($2,777 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,370. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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