Animal Caretakers pay range in Rockford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,000 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Rockford earn between $31,200 and $35,470.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $33KMedian
- $35K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,280 | $2,940 | $16.96 |
| Median | $32,720 | $2,727 | $15.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,470 | $2,956 | $17.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Rockford vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Rockford earn 9% less than the Illinois average ($38,670) and 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $35,280 | $32,720 | $31,200 | $43,000 | 240 |
| 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 Rockford
On the average salary of $35,280, a single filer in Rockford takes home about $28,922 a year, or $2,410 a month and $1,112 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 Rockford a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rockford area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $35,280 buys what about $38,284 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rockford ($47,120). A typical home costs $221,368, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Illinois cities
Rockford ranks 5th 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 Rockford: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Rockford?
$16.96 an hour on average, and $15.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Rockford?
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 Rockford?
About $28,922 a year ($2,410 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,280.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Rockford than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Rockford, IL (40420). 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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