Animal Caretakers pay range in Blacksburg
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,330 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Blacksburg earn between $27,860 and $34,260.
- $27K10th
- $28K25th
- $28KMedian
- $34K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,520 | $2,710 | $15.63 |
| Median | $28,160 | $2,347 | $13.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,860 | $2,322 | $13.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,260 | $2,855 | $16.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Blacksburg vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Blacksburg earn 10% less than the Virginia average ($36,070) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $32,520 | $28,160 | $27,040 | $44,330 | 160 |
| Virginia | $36,070 | $34,380 | $28,050 | $46,180 | 10,070 |
| 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 Blacksburg
On the average salary of $32,520, a single filer in Blacksburg takes home about $27,254 a year, or $2,271 a month and $1,048 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Blacksburg a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Blacksburg area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $32,520 buys what about $35,077 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Blacksburg ($48,120). A typical home costs $291,346, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Virginia cities
Blacksburg ranks 9th of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Charlottesville pays the most ($36,170).
- Charlottesville$36,170
- Richmond$35,130
- Harrisonburg$34,010
- Virginia Beach$33,900
- Roanoke$33,630
- Staunton$33,320
- Winchester$33,000
- Lynchburg$32,860
- Blacksburg$32,520
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 Blacksburg: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Blacksburg?
$15.64 an hour on average, and $13.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Blacksburg?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Blacksburg?
About $27,254 a year ($2,271 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,520.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA (13980). 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 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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