Animal Caretakers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,490 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Charleston earn between $23,140 and $31,040.
- $22K10th
- $23K25th
- $28KMedian
- $31K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,590 | $2,549 | $14.71 |
| Median | $28,360 | $2,363 | $13.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,140 | $1,928 | $11.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,040 | $2,587 | $14.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Charleston earn 3% less than the West Virginia average ($31,550) and 18% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $30,590 | $28,360 | $21,740 | $45,490 | 200 |
| West Virginia | $31,550 | $28,550 | $22,050 | $44,810 | 1,160 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $30,590, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $26,013 a year, or $2,168 a month and $1,001 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 Charleston a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $30,590 buys what about $34,480 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 4th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Morgantown pays the most ($31,700).
- Morgantown$31,700
- Wheeling$31,260
- Parkersburg$30,990
- Charleston$30,590
- Weirton$30,350
- Huntington$30,330
- Beckley$29,970
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 Charleston: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Charleston?
$14.71 an hour on average, and $13.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $26,013 a year ($2,168 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,590.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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