Animal Caretaker Salary in New York, NY
Animal Caretakers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $37,900 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,183 take-home, or $2,599 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median animal caretaker salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,368
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,350
- Medicare (1.45%)$550
- New York income tax$1,450
- Take-home pay$31,183
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,046 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,137 ($2,511 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Animal Caretaker pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,230 | $16.46 | $28,432 | $2,369 |
| 25th percentile | $35,990 | $17.30 | $29,752 | $2,479 |
| Median (50th) | $37,900 | $18.22 | $31,183 | $2,599 |
| 75th percentile | $44,130 | $21.22 | $35,852 | $2,988 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,790 | $24.90 | $41,594 | $3,466 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,900 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median animal caretaker's $31,183 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,703 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Animal Caretaker jobs are less concentrated in New York, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for animal caretakers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #21 of 26 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $44,060 | $37,582 | $33,817 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,030 | $32,774 | $31,722 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $34,590 | $28,880 | $31,091 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $43,640 | $35,942 | $31,089 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $35,040 | $30,335 | $30,933 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $39,850 | $32,427 | $29,951 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $37,640 | $31,476 | $29,756 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $34,830 | $30,166 | $29,744 |
| 21 | New York, NY | $37,900 | $31,183 | $27,703 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 26 metros →
About the job: animal caretakers
Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal caretaker make in New York, NY?
The median animal caretaker salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $37,900 a year, or about $18.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,990 and $44,130.
What is a animal caretaker’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $37,900 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $31,183 a year ($2,599 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,450 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a animal caretaker?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,703 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #21 of 26 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a animal caretaker afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 92% of a median animal caretaker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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