Animal Caretakers pay range in Dover
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,430 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Dover earn between $31,200 and $33,410.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $31KMedian
- $33K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,550 | $2,796 | $16.13 |
| Median | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,410 | $2,784 | $16.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Dover vs. Delaware and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Dover earn 7% less than the Delaware average ($35,940) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $33,550 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $36,430 | 240 |
| Delaware | $35,940 | $33,910 | $31,200 | $42,500 | 1,230 |
| 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 Dover
On the average salary of $33,550, a single filer in Dover takes home about $27,842 a year, or $2,320 a month and $1,071 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 (2025 rules).
Is Dover a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dover area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.5), so the average $33,550 buys what about $34,408 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Dover ($46,690). A typical home costs $372,156, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in nearby metro areas
- Vineland, NJ$37,690
- Atlantic City, NJ$40,670
- Philadelphia, PA$37,340
- Baltimore, MD$40,830
- Salisbury, MD$37,580
- Lancaster, PA$33,980
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 Dover: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Dover?
$16.13 an hour on average, and $15.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Dover?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Dover?
About $27,842 a year ($2,320 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,550.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Dover 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 Dover, DE (20100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.01, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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