Animal Caretakers pay range in Trenton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $51,720 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Trenton earn between $33,730 and $39,490.
- $32K10th
- $34K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,060 | $3,255 | $18.78 |
| Median | $35,170 | $2,931 | $16.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,730 | $2,811 | $16.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,490 | $3,291 | $18.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Trenton vs. New Jersey and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Trenton earn about the same as the New Jersey average ($39,940) and 5% more than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | $39,060 | $35,170 | $32,220 | $51,720 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $39,940 | $35,850 | $32,220 | $49,620 | 5,890 |
| 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 Trenton
On the average salary of $39,060, a single filer in Trenton takes home about $32,915 a year, or $2,743 a month and $1,266 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 (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Is Trenton a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Trenton area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $39,060 buys what about $37,856 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Trenton ($63,490). A typical home costs $446,377, or 11.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other New Jersey cities
Trenton ranks 2nd of 3 New Jersey metro areas for this job; Atlantic City pays the most ($40,670).
- Atlantic City$40,670
- Trenton$39,060
- Vineland$37,690
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 Trenton: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Trenton?
$18.78 an hour on average, and $16.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Trenton?
About $32,915 a year ($2,743 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,060. New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Trenton than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ (45940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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