Animal Caretaker Salary in St. Louis, MO
Animal Caretakers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $31,530 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,970 take-home, or $2,247 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median animal caretaker salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,604
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,955
- Medicare (1.45%)$457
- Missouri income tax$545
- Take-home pay$26,970
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $315 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $26,654 ($2,221 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $30,210 | $14.52 | $25,971 | $2,164 |
| Median (50th) | $31,530 | $15.16 | $26,970 | $2,247 |
| 75th percentile | $35,400 | $17.02 | $29,897 | $2,491 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,730 | $22.47 | $38,469 | $3,206 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,530 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median animal caretaker's $26,970 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,363 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO has 1.4× 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
St. Louis, MO ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | St. Louis, MO | $31,530 | $26,970 | $28,363 |
*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.
Animal Caretaker salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $32,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal caretaker make in St. Louis, MO?
The median animal caretaker salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $31,530 a year, or about $15.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,210 and $35,400.
What is a animal caretaker’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $31,530 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $26,970 a year ($2,247 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $545 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a animal caretaker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,363 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #17 of 26 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a animal caretaker afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median animal caretaker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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