Animal Caretakers pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,490 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Traverse City earn between $29,340 and $37,440.
- $29K10th
- $29K25th
- $32KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,610 | $2,884 | $16.64 |
| Median | $31,970 | $2,664 | $15.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,340 | $2,445 | $14.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Traverse City earn about the same as the Michigan average ($33,850) and 7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $34,610 | $31,970 | $28,710 | $45,490 | 80 |
| Michigan | $33,850 | $30,320 | $27,770 | $45,480 | 6,290 |
| 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 Traverse City
On the average salary of $34,610, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $28,765 a year, or $2,397 a month and $1,106 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Traverse City a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Traverse City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $34,610 buys what about $37,067 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 12.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 3rd of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Battle Creek pays the most ($35,740).
- Battle Creek$35,740
- Detroit$34,770
- Traverse City$34,610
- Ann Arbor$34,130
- Lansing$34,120
- Grand Rapids$33,750
- Flint$33,120
- Kalamazoo$33,040
- Saginaw$32,740
- Jackson$32,510
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 Traverse City: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Traverse City?
$16.64 an hour on average, and $15.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $28,765 a year ($2,397 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,610.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Traverse City than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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