Animal Caretakers pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,050 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Boulder earn between $36,800 and $43,440.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $43K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,340 | $3,528 | $20.36 |
| Median | $37,720 | $3,143 | $18.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,800 | $3,067 | $17.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,440 | $3,620 | $20.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Boulder vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Boulder earn 3% more than the Colorado average ($41,010) and 14% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $42,340 | $37,720 | $35,510 | $60,050 | 490 |
| Colorado | $41,010 | $37,430 | $32,070 | $55,300 | 6,290 |
| 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 Boulder
On the average salary of $42,340, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $35,046 a year, or $2,920 a month and $1,348 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $42,340 buys what about $40,246 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 17.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boulder$42,340
- Denver$41,660
- Colorado Springs$40,210
- Fort Collins$39,570
- Greeley$39,290
- Pueblo$39,110
- Grand Junction$37,030
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 Boulder: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Boulder?
$20.36 an hour on average, and $18.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Boulder?
About $35,046 a year ($2,920 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,340. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.47, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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