Animal Caretaker Salary in Baltimore, MD
Animal Caretakers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $35,420 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,321 take-home, or $2,443 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median animal caretaker salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,070
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,196
- Medicare (1.45%)$514
- Maryland income tax$1,319
- Take-home pay$29,321
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Animal Caretaker pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,500 | $15.14 | $26,358 | $2,196 |
| 25th percentile | $34,130 | $16.41 | $28,346 | $2,362 |
| Median (50th) | $35,420 | $17.03 | $29,321 | $2,443 |
| 75th percentile | $46,670 | $22.44 | $37,826 | $3,152 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,120 | $26.50 | $44,214 | $3,685 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,420 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median animal caretaker's $29,321 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,062 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 about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for animal caretakers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $35,420 | $29,321 | $28,062 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 26 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal caretaker make in Baltimore, MD?
The median animal caretaker salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $35,420 a year, or about $17.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,130 and $46,670.
What is a animal caretaker’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $35,420 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $29,321 a year ($2,443 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,319 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a animal caretaker?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,062 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #20 of 26 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a animal caretaker afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median animal caretaker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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