What are the main factors that influence an Animal Caretaker's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Animal Caretaker's salary?

An Animal Caretaker's salary grows with experience: starting around $40,583 for beginners, reaching about $42,890 at mid-level, and approach $43,158 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for an Animal Caretaker?

Animal Caretaker salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Animal Caretaker roles are District of Columbia $44,179, California $44,012, Massachusetts $43,425. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Animal Caretaker roles make?

Salaries for Animal Caretaker level roles vary by specialization: In Home Caretaker: $67,681; Assistant Caretaker: $51,441; Research Animal Senior Caretaker: $49,690; Animal Technician, Sr.: $49,642; Research Animal Caretaker: $41,590.

Animal Caretaker Salary in Delaware

How much does an Animal Caretaker make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Animal Caretaker in Delaware is $40,409 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, an Animal Caretaker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,097
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,229 to $43,910
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,424

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Animal Caretaker Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,910	$3,659	$844	$21
Average	$40,409	$3,367	$777	$19
25th Percentile	$36,229	$3,019	$697	$17

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Animal Caretaker Salaries

An Animal Caretaker's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Animal Caretaker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Animal Caretaker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $40,583
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,387
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,890
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,051
Expert (over 8 years): $43,158

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Animal Caretaker	$40,583
Intermediate Level Animal Caretaker	$41,387
Senior Level Animal Caretaker	$42,890
Specialist Level Animal Caretaker	$43,051
Expert Level Animal Caretaker	$43,158

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How Do Animal Caretaker Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Animal Caretakers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $44,179.
California: $44,012.
Massachusetts: $43,425.

District of Columbia $44,179 California $44,012 Massachusetts $43,425 Washington $43,266 New Jersey $43,250 Alaska $43,194 Connecticut $42,643 New York $42,420

Hawaii $41,705 Rhode Island $41,370 Maryland $41,143 Minnesota $40,832 Colorado $40,712 Illinois $40,672 Oregon $40,520 Delaware $40,409

New Hampshire $40,338 Virginia $40,181 Pennsylvania $39,722 Nevada $39,491 North Dakota $39,415 Michigan $39,295 Wisconsin $39,251 Vermont $39,164

Texas $38,920 Maine $38,904 Arizona $38,880 Ohio $38,852 Georgia $38,485 Indiana $38,302 Wyoming $38,266 Utah $38,210

Iowa $38,186 Kansas $37,995 Louisiana $37,939 North Carolina $37,919 Missouri $37,911 Florida $37,755 Montana $37,671 Nebraska $37,592

Kentucky $37,548 South Carolina $37,388 Tennessee $37,288 Idaho $37,248 New Mexico $36,957 Oklahoma $36,893 Alabama $36,658 South Dakota $36,263

Arkansas $36,047 West Virginia $35,932 Mississippi $35,585

Top Paying Cities for Animal Caretakers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $41,821
Little Creek: $41,434
Magnolia: $41,606

Lincoln, DE $41,821 Little Creek, DE $41,434 Magnolia, DE $41,606 Milford, DE $41,821 Marydel, DE $41,279 Millsboro, DE $41,821 Millville, DE $42,100 Milton, DE $41,821

Nassau, DE $41,821 Ocean View, DE $42,100 Rehoboth Beach, DE $42,100 Seaford, DE $41,382 Selbyville, DE $42,100 Smyrna, DE $41,231 Viola, DE $41,606 Woodside, DE $41,486

Bear, DE $40,927 Newark, DE $40,943 Claymont, DE $40,975 Delaware City, DE $40,943 Hockessin, DE $40,975 Kirkwood, DE $40,943 Middletown, DE $41,147 Montchanin, DE $40,975

New Castle, DE $40,975 Odessa, DE $41,203 Port Penn, DE $40,832 Rockland, DE $40,975 Saint Georges, DE $40,943 Townsend, DE $41,143 Winterthur, DE $40,975 Lewes, DE $41,821

Wilmington, DE $40,975 Dover, DE $41,414 Dover Afb, DE $41,510 Bethany Beach, DE $42,100 Bethel, DE $41,382 Bridgeville, DE $41,821 Camden Wyoming, DE $41,458 Cheswold, DE $41,318

Clayton, DE $41,215 Dagsboro, DE $42,100 Delmar, DE $41,382 Ellendale, DE $41,821 Felton, DE $41,821 Fenwick Island, DE $42,100 Frankford, DE $42,100 Frederica, DE $41,821

Georgetown, DE $41,821 Greenwood, DE $41,821 Harbeson, DE $41,821 Harrington, DE $41,821 Hartly, DE $41,195 Houston, DE $41,821 Kenton, DE $41,215 Laurel, DE $41,382

Yorklyn, DE $40,975

Animal Caretaker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Animal Caretaker's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$36,229

Average $40,409/year

$43,910

$3,019

Average $3,367/month

$3,659

$697

Average $777/week

$844

$17

Average $19/hour

$21

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,910	$3,659	$844	$21
Average	$40,409	$3,367	$777	$19
25th Percentile	$36,229	$3,019	$697	$17

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