Animal Caretakers pay in California
In California, the median pay for animal caretakers is $18.60 an hour ($38,700 a year). About 25,710 people work in this job there.
That is 9% higher than the U.S. median ($35,360). California ranks 5th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for animal caretakers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.14 | $35,640 |
| 25% of workers | $17.70 | $36,810 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.60 | $38,700 |
| 75% of workers | $21.71 | $45,160 |
| 90% of workers | $27.05 | $56,270 |
Animal Caretakers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $44,070 | 1,090 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $43,640 | 3,440 |
| El Centro | $40,880 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $39,870 | 200 |
| Vallejo | $39,520 | 230 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $38,840 | 600 |
| Napa | $38,750 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $38,520 | 9,000 |
| Modesto | $38,320 | 280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $38,280 | 270 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $37,970 | 380 |
| Salinas | $37,960 | 240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $37,870 | 3,030 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $37,780 | 1,510 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $37,340 | 50 |
| Yuba City | $37,300 | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $37,120 | 300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $37,050 | 2,170 |
| Redding | $36,900 | 160 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $36,660 | 310 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $36,620 | 520 |
| Merced | $36,480 | 80 |
| Fresno | $36,430 | 540 |
| Visalia | $36,150 | 120 |
| Chico | $35,990 | 150 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for animal caretakers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 62,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | $47,630 |
| Childcare Workers | $40,020 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,630 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $38,640 |
| Animal Trainers | $49,060 |
| Animal Control Workers | $62,630 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.