Animal Caretakers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,560 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Boston earn between $37,070 and $50,730.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $40KMedian
- $51K75th
- $67K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,240 | $3,770 | $21.75 |
| Median | $39,850 | $3,321 | $19.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,070 | $3,089 | $17.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,730 | $4,228 | $24.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($45,080) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $45,240 | $39,850 | $31,210 | $66,560 | 5,590 |
| Massachusetts | $45,080 | $39,650 | $32,910 | $64,060 | 6,900 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $45,240, a single filer in Boston takes home about $36,588 a year, or $3,049 a month and $1,407 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $38,530 | $3,211 |
| Working in MA | $36,588 | $3,049 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $45,240 buys what about $41,786 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 16.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($45,910).
- Barnstable$45,910
- Boston$45,240
- Amherst$43,830
- Worcester$42,160
- Pittsfield$41,830
- Springfield$41,230
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 Boston: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Boston?
$21.75 an hour on average, and $19.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Boston?
About $36,588 a year ($3,049 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,240. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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