Animal Caretakers pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,280 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Tucson earn between $34,880 and $44,780.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $45K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,980 | $3,498 | $20.18 |
| Median | $36,870 | $3,072 | $17.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,880 | $2,907 | $16.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,780 | $3,732 | $21.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Tucson earn 6% less than the Arizona average ($44,630) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $41,980 | $36,870 | $31,560 | $63,280 | 950 |
| Arizona | $44,630 | $38,180 | $33,320 | $68,090 | 6,330 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $41,980, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $35,255 a year, or $2,938 a month and $1,356 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $41,980 buys what about $43,325 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 3rd of 7 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($46,050).
- Phoenix$46,050
- Flagstaff$42,280
- Tucson$41,980
- Prescott Valley$41,160
- Yuma$40,420
- Sierra Vista$39,560
- Lake Havasu City$36,120
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 Tucson: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Tucson?
$20.18 an hour on average, and $17.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Tucson?
About $35,255 a year ($2,938 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,980.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.42, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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