Animal Caretakers pay range in Lawrence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,980 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Lawrence earn between $25,030 and $38,540.
- $22K10th
- $25K25th
- $29KMedian
- $39K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,960 | $2,747 | $15.85 |
| Median | $28,660 | $2,388 | $13.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,030 | $2,086 | $12.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,540 | $3,212 | $18.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Lawrence vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Lawrence earn 3% less than the Kansas average ($34,130) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $32,960 | $28,660 | $22,390 | $47,980 | 160 |
| Kansas | $34,130 | $29,830 | $21,720 | $49,450 | 3,000 |
| 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 Lawrence
On the average salary of $32,960, a single filer in Lawrence takes home about $27,613 a year, or $2,301 a month and $1,062 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lawrence a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lawrence area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $32,960 buys what about $36,524 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lawrence ($47,390). A typical home costs $340,687, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Kansas cities
Lawrence ranks 3rd of 4 Kansas metro areas for this job; Manhattan pays the most ($36,060).
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 Lawrence: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Lawrence?
$15.85 an hour on average, and $13.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Lawrence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Lawrence?
About $27,613 a year ($2,301 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,960.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Lawrence than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Lawrence, KS (29940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.80, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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