Animal Caretakers pay range in Charlottesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,070 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Charlottesville earn between $30,200 and $38,580.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,170 | $3,014 | $17.39 |
| Median | $35,190 | $2,932 | $16.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,200 | $2,517 | $14.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,580 | $3,215 | $18.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Charlottesville vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Charlottesville earn about the same as the Virginia average ($36,070) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $36,170 | $35,190 | $28,870 | $46,070 | 370 |
| 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 Charlottesville
On the average salary of $36,170, a single filer in Charlottesville takes home about $29,977 a year, or $2,498 a month and $1,153 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 (2025 rules).
Is Charlottesville a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlottesville area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.1), so the average $36,170 buys what about $36,482 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlottesville ($55,180). A typical home costs $473,058, or 13.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Virginia cities
Charlottesville ranks 1st of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Charlottesville: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Charlottesville?
$17.39 an hour on average, and $16.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Charlottesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Charlottesville?
About $29,977 a year ($2,498 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,170.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Charlottesville than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Charlottesville, VA (16820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.88, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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