Animal Caretakers pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,650 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Decatur earn between $23,460 and $31,370.
- $21K10th
- $23K25th
- $29KMedian
- $31K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,130 | $2,594 | $14.97 |
| Median | $28,650 | $2,388 | $13.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,460 | $1,955 | $11.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,370 | $2,614 | $15.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Decatur vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Decatur earn about the same as the Alabama average ($31,300) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $31,130 | $28,650 | $21,370 | $36,650 | 90 |
| Alabama | $31,300 | $28,330 | $21,740 | $45,860 | 4,100 |
| United States | $37,300 | $35,360 | $27,250 | $50,060 | 266,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Animal Caretakers salary after taxes in Decatur
On the average salary of $31,130, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $25,965 a year, or $2,164 a month and $999 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Decatur a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $31,130 buys what about $35,695 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($46,280). A typical home costs $232,614, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Alabama cities
Decatur ranks 5th of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job; Daphne pays the most ($33,890).
- Daphne$33,890
- Huntsville$33,600
- Mobile$31,970
- Birmingham$31,790
- Decatur$31,130
- Dothan$31,050
- Tuscaloosa$30,640
- Auburn$30,620
- Montgomery$29,640
- Florence$29,390
Highest-paying cities for animal caretakers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,930).
- San Jose, CA$47,930
- Seattle, WA$47,810
- San Francisco, CA$46,960
- Phoenix, AZ$46,050
- Barnstable, MA$45,910
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Animal Caretakers salary in Decatur: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Decatur?
$14.96 an hour on average, and $13.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Decatur?
About $25,965 a year ($2,164 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,130. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($37,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-2021; area Decatur, AL (19460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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