Animal Caretakers pay range in Fort Smith
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,400 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Fort Smith earn between $28,860 and $35,150.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $33KMedian
- $35K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,730 | $2,811 | $16.22 |
| Median | $32,720 | $2,727 | $15.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,860 | $2,405 | $13.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,150 | $2,929 | $16.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Fort Smith vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Fort Smith earn about the same as the Arkansas average ($34,110) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $33,730 | $32,720 | $27,840 | $46,400 | 100 |
| Arkansas | $34,110 | $30,230 | $27,290 | $47,990 | 2,040 |
| 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 Fort Smith
On the average salary of $33,730, a single filer in Fort Smith takes home about $28,522 a year, or $2,377 a month and $1,097 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in AR | $28,522 | $2,377 |
| Working in OK | $28,310 | $2,359 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Is Fort Smith a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Smith area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $33,730 buys what about $39,272 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Smith ($39,560). A typical home costs $205,554, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Arkansas cities
Fort Smith ranks 2nd of 5 Arkansas metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($35,580).
- Fayetteville$35,580
- Fort Smith$33,730
- Little Rock$33,260
- Jonesboro$33,220
- Hot Springs$32,300
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 Fort Smith: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Fort Smith?
$16.22 an hour on average, and $15.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Fort Smith?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Fort Smith?
About $28,522 a year ($2,377 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,730. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Fort Smith than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK (22900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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