Animal Caretakers pay range in Cleveland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $41,020 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Cleveland earn between $23,910 and $32,240.
- $22K10th
- $24K25th
- $29KMedian
- $32K75th
- $41K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,230 | $2,519 | $14.53 |
| Median | $28,770 | $2,398 | $13.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,910 | $1,992 | $11.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Cleveland vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Cleveland earn 11% less than the Tennessee average ($34,110) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $30,230 | $28,770 | $22,480 | $41,020 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $34,110 | $30,550 | $23,980 | $47,020 | 6,110 |
| 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 Cleveland
On the average salary of $30,230, a single filer in Cleveland takes home about $26,470 a year, or $2,206 a month and $1,018 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Cleveland a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cleveland area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.1), so the average $30,230 buys what about $34,321 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Cleveland ($40,230). A typical home costs $312,380, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Tennessee cities
Cleveland ranks 9th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($35,810).
- Nashville$35,810
- Knoxville$35,690
- Memphis$33,910
- Chattanooga$33,390
- Clarksville$32,680
- Jackson$31,290
- Kingsport$31,290
- Morristown$30,370
- Cleveland$30,230
- Johnson City$30,080
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 Cleveland: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Cleveland?
$14.53 an hour on average, and $13.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Cleveland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Cleveland?
About $26,470 a year ($2,206 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,230. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Cleveland than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Cleveland, TN (17420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.63, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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