Animal Caretakers pay range in Mankato
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,080 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Mankato earn between $30,710 and $35,770.
- $27K10th
- $31K25th
- $34KMedian
- $36K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,780 | $3,065 | $17.68 |
| Median | $34,320 | $2,860 | $16.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,710 | $2,559 | $14.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,770 | $2,981 | $17.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Mankato vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Mankato earn 4% less than the Minnesota average ($38,320) and about the same as the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato | $36,780 | $34,320 | $26,570 | $46,080 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $38,320 | $36,430 | $29,440 | $48,050 | 4,250 |
| 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 Mankato
On the average salary of $36,780, a single filer in Mankato takes home about $30,584 a year, or $2,549 a month and $1,176 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 (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Mankato a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Mankato area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.0), so the average $36,780 buys what about $40,438 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Mankato ($49,530). A typical home costs $309,967, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Minnesota cities
Mankato ranks 3rd of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Rochester pays the most ($41,120).
- Rochester$41,120
- Minneapolis$39,340
- Mankato$36,780
- St. Cloud$36,060
- Duluth$34,910
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 Mankato: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Mankato?
$17.69 an hour on average, and $16.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Mankato?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Mankato?
About $30,584 a year ($2,549 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,780. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Mankato than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Mankato, MN (31860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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