Animal Caretakers pay in Illinois
In Illinois, the median pay for animal caretakers is $17.10 an hour ($35,570 a year). About 11,070 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($35,360). Illinois ranks 18th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for animal caretakers in Illinois
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 25% of workers | $15.42 | $32,080 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.10 | $35,570 |
| 75% of workers | $18.19 | $37,840 |
| 90% of workers | $24.12 | $50,160 |
Animal Caretakers pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $36,110 | 8,510 |
| Springfield | $34,160 | 150 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $32,950 | 170 |
| Rockford | $32,720 | 240 |
| Peoria | $32,010 | 300 |
| Decatur | $31,670 | 100 |
| Bloomington | $31,280 | 150 |
| Kankakee | $31,200 | 70 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (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 Illinois
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | $45,960 |
| Childcare Workers | $35,830 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $46,440 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $37,480 |
| Animal Trainers | $45,830 |
Other job titles for this job
Open animal caretakers jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring animal caretakers? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
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.