Animal Caretakers pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,460 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Lincoln earn between $28,660 and $36,150.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,950 | $2,912 | $16.80 |
| Median | $30,940 | $2,578 | $14.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,660 | $2,388 | $13.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,150 | $3,012 | $17.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Lincoln earn 7% less than the Nebraska average ($37,610) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $34,950 | $30,940 | $28,080 | $48,460 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $37,610 | $31,680 | $28,080 | $52,010 | 2,100 |
| 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 Lincoln
On the average salary of $34,950, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $29,552 a year, or $2,463 a month and $1,137 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lincoln a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $34,950 buys what about $38,163 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 2nd of 3 Nebraska metro areas for this job; Omaha pays the most ($39,380).
- Omaha$39,380
- Lincoln$34,950
- Grand Island$34,810
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 Lincoln: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Lincoln?
$16.80 an hour on average, and $14.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $29,552 a year ($2,463 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,950.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Lincoln than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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