Animal Caretakers · Illinois

Animal Caretakers Salary in Illinois

Animal Caretakers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $35,570 —0.6% above the national median of $35,360. That ranks IL #18 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$35,570
Median hourly
$17.10
Entry level (P10)
$31,200
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$50,160
90th percentile
Employment
11,070
1.8 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+0.6%
U.S. $35,360

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$31,200
$32,080
$35,570
$37,840
$31,200$35,570$50,160
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $35,570.

Employment concentration (1.06×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for animal caretakers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$44,210$21.254600.38
2Washington$40,570$19.516,6201.09
3Hawaii$40,130$19.295700.53
4Massachusetts$39,650$19.066,9001.11
5California$38,700$18.6025,7100.82
6Arizona$38,180$18.356,3301.14
7New York$37,840$18.1912,4700.75
8Colorado$37,430$18.006,2901.27
9Connecticut$37,310$17.943,0001.03
10Maine$37,230$17.901,4301.30

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do animal caretakers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for animal caretakers in Illinois is $35,570, or $17.10 per hour. That is 0.6% above the national median of $35,360.

What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,200 per year ($15.00/hour). The 25th percentile is $32,080.

How many people work as animal caretakers in Illinois?

About 11,070 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 1.8 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for animal caretakers?

Illinois ranks #18 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.06x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays animal caretakers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $44,210 per year, followed by Washington ($40,570) and Hawaii ($40,130).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes