Animal Caretakers pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,820 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Indianapolis earn between $28,260 and $35,370.
- $23K10th
- $28K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,430 | $2,702 | $15.59 |
| Median | $30,440 | $2,537 | $14.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,260 | $2,355 | $13.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,370 | $2,948 | $17.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Indianapolis earn about the same as the Indiana average ($31,900) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $32,430 | $30,440 | $23,080 | $43,820 | 2,810 |
| Indiana | $31,900 | $29,990 | $22,440 | $43,270 | 6,420 |
| 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 Indianapolis
On the average salary of $32,430, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $26,660 a year, or $2,222 a month and $1,025 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $32,430 buys what about $33,889 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 3rd of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Bloomington pays the most ($33,330).
- Bloomington$33,330
- South Bend$32,920
- Indianapolis$32,430
- Columbus$32,320
- Fort Wayne$32,280
- Evansville$32,160
- Michigan City$31,980
- Elkhart$31,910
- Kokomo$31,370
- Lafayette$31,010
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 Indianapolis: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Indianapolis?
$15.59 an hour on average, and $14.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $26,660 a year ($2,222 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,430. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do animal caretakers earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.48, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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