Animal Caretakers pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,310 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Amherst earn between $35,860 and $50,160.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $40KMedian
- $50K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,830 | $3,652 | $21.07 |
| Median | $39,870 | $3,322 | $19.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,860 | $2,988 | $17.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,160 | $4,180 | $24.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Amherst vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Amherst earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($45,080) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | $43,830 | $39,870 | $34,840 | $58,310 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $45,080 | $39,650 | $32,910 | $64,060 | 6,900 |
| 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 Amherst
On the average salary of $43,830, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $35,526 a year, or $2,960 a month and $1,366 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $43,830 buys what about $43,724 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 3rd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($45,910).
- Barnstable$45,910
- Boston$45,240
- Amherst$43,830
- Worcester$42,160
- Pittsfield$41,830
- Springfield$41,230
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 Amherst: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Amherst?
$21.07 an hour on average, and $19.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Amherst?
About $35,526 a year ($2,960 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,830. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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