Animal Caretakers pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,360 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Decatur earn between $31,200 and $35,500.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $32KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,800 | $2,817 | $16.25 |
| Median | $31,670 | $2,639 | $15.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,500 | $2,958 | $17.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Decatur vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Decatur earn 13% less than the Illinois average ($38,670) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $33,800 | $31,670 | $31,200 | $39,360 | 100 |
| Illinois | $38,670 | $35,570 | $31,200 | $50,160 | 11,070 |
| 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 $33,800, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $27,806 a year, or $2,317 a month and $1,069 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Decatur a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.4), so the average $33,800 buys what about $38,226 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($51,290). A typical home costs $126,931, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Illinois cities
Decatur ranks 7th of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($39,720).
- Chicago$39,720
- Springfield$35,980
- Bloomington$35,840
- Champaign$35,590
- Rockford$35,280
- Peoria$34,680
- Decatur$33,800
- Kankakee$32,950
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?
$16.25 an hour on average, and $15.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Decatur?
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 Decatur?
About $27,806 a year ($2,317 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,800.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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, IL (19500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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