Animal Caretaker Salary in Ocala, FL

Animal Caretakers in the Ocala, FL metro area earn a median $34,930 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,246 take-home, or $2,521 a month.

Median salary
$34,930
$16.79 per hour
Typical range
$28,200 – $46,980
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Ocala, FL
600
2.88× national concentration

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median animal caretaker salary in Ocala, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Animal Caretaker in Ocala, FL
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$30,246
per year · effective tax rate 13.4%
$2,521Monthly
$1,260Twice a month
$1,163Every 2 weeks
$14.54Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,012
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,166
  • Medicare (1.45%)$506
  • Florida income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$30,246

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Animal Caretaker pay by experience in Ocala, FL

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$28,200$13.56$24,833$2,069
25th percentile$29,610$14.24$25,972$2,164
Median (50th)$34,930$16.79$30,246$2,521
75th percentile$38,590$18.55$33,187$2,766
90th percentile (top earners)$46,980$22.59$39,928$3,327

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $34,930 buys in Ocala, FL

Prices in Ocala, FL are 4.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median animal caretaker's $30,246 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,760 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,172
46% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,373
54% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,349
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Ocala, FL has 2.9× the national concentration of animal caretaker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for animal caretakers, adjusted for cost of living

Ocala, FL ranks #4 of 102 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $44,060$37,582$33,817
2San Jose, CA $44,070$36,265$32,842
3Tucson, AZ $36,870$31,092$32,088
4Ocala, FL $34,930$30,246$31,760
5Phoenix, AZ $39,030$32,774$31,722
6Portland, ME $38,580$31,733$31,154
7Lexington, KY $34,590$28,880$31,091
8San Francisco, CA $43,640$35,942$31,089

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 102 metros →

Animal Caretaker salaries elsewhere in Florida

Frequently asked questions

How much does a animal caretaker make in Ocala, FL?

The median animal caretaker salary in the Ocala, FL metro area is $34,930 a year, or about $16.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,610 and $38,590.

What is a animal caretaker’s take-home pay in Ocala, FL?

On the median $34,930 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $30,246 a year ($2,521 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is Ocala, FL a good place to work as a animal caretaker?

Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 4.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,760 would in a typical U.S. city. Ocala, FL ranks #4 of 102 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a animal caretaker afford rent in Ocala, FL?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ocala, FL is $1,172 a month ($1,373 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median animal caretaker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

Related jobs in Ocala, FL

Cost of living & all salaries in Ocala, FL →