Animal Caretakers · New Jersey

Animal Caretakers Salary in New Jersey

Animal Caretakers in New Jersey earn a median annual wage of $35,850 —1.4% above the national median of $35,360. That ranks NJ #17 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$35,850
Median hourly
$17.24
Entry level (P10)
$32,220
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$49,620
90th percentile
Employment
5,890
1.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+1.4%
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
$32,220
$34,110
$35,850
$42,340
$32,220$35,850$49,620
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $35,850.

Employment is only 0.80× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in New Jersey.

Highest-paying states for animal caretakers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New Jersey.

Frequently asked questions

How much do animal caretakers make in New Jersey?

The median annual wage for animal caretakers in New Jersey is $35,850, or $17.24 per hour. That is 1.4% above the national median of $35,360.

What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in New Jersey?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $32,220 per year ($15.49/hour). The 25th percentile is $34,110.

How many people work as animal caretakers in New Jersey?

About 5,890 people work in this occupation in New Jersey, or 1.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New Jersey a good state for animal caretakers?

New Jersey ranks #17 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.80x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in New Jersey.

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