Animal Caretakers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,380 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Hickory earn between $27,570 and $35,570.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $29KMedian
- $36K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,590 | $2,716 | $15.67 |
| Median | $29,310 | $2,442 | $14.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,570 | $2,298 | $13.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,570 | $2,964 | $17.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Hickory earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($33,870) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $32,590 | $29,310 | $22,250 | $44,380 | 230 |
| North Carolina | $33,870 | $30,870 | $23,210 | $46,120 | 9,730 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $32,590, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $27,574 a year, or $2,298 a month and $1,061 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 Hickory a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $32,590 buys what about $36,831 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 8th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($35,980).
- Asheville$35,980
- Durham$35,790
- Charlotte$34,990
- Raleigh$34,430
- Winston-Salem$34,050
- Burlington$33,710
- Greensboro$33,420
- Hickory$32,590
- Jacksonville$32,330
- Fayetteville$32,320
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 Hickory: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Hickory?
$15.67 an hour on average, and $14.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $27,574 a year ($2,298 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,590.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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: 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 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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