Animal Caretakers pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,390 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Salem earn between $35,150 and $42,480.
- $33K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $42K75th
- $53K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,350 | $3,362 | $19.40 |
| Median | $36,920 | $3,077 | $17.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,150 | $2,929 | $16.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,480 | $3,540 | $20.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Animal Caretakers salary after taxes in Salem
On the average salary of $40,350, a single filer in Salem takes home about $31,861 a year, or $2,655 a month and $1,225 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross 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.
Is Salem a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $40,350 buys what about $38,929 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 11.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 3rd 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 Salem: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Salem?
$19.40 an hour on average, and $17.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Salem?
About $31,861 a year ($2,655 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,350. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($37,713).
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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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