Animal Caretakers pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,680 or more. The middle half of animal caretakers in Madison earn between $28,390 and $43,320.
- $28K10th
- $28K25th
- $34KMedian
- $43K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,260 | $3,105 | $17.91 |
| Median | $34,160 | $2,847 | $16.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,390 | $2,366 | $13.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,320 | $3,610 | $20.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Animal Caretakers pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Animal caretakers in Madison earn 9% more than the Wisconsin average ($34,330) and about the same as the U.S. average ($37,300). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $37,260 | $34,160 | $27,760 | $58,680 | 1,240 |
| Wisconsin | $34,330 | $30,160 | $23,920 | $47,700 | 5,720 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $37,260, a single filer in Madison takes home about $31,170 a year, or $2,597 a month and $1,199 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 (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for animal caretakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $37,260 buys what about $38,299 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 12.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Animal Caretakers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$37,260
- Oshkosh$35,010
- Milwaukee$34,420
- Sheboygan$34,060
- Eau Claire$33,930
- Appleton$33,790
- Wausau$33,580
- Racine$32,920
- Green Bay$32,760
- Janesville$32,260
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 Madison: questions
How much do animal caretakers make an hour in Madison?
$17.91 an hour on average, and $16.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level animal caretakers salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the animal caretakers take-home pay in Madison?
About $31,170 a year ($2,597 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,260.
Do animal caretakers earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Madison, WI (31540). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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