SOC 39-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Caretakers — Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $35,080 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,360.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $35,080 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,360. Half of workers earn between $30,000 and $39,690. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $26,900 and the ninetieth at $49,990.
The area has 220 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.58 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,000. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 240th of 270 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,900 | −23.9% |
| 25th | $30,000 | −15.2% |
| Median (50th) | $35,080 | −0.8% |
| 75th | $39,690 | +12.2% |
| 90th | $49,990 | +41.4% |
| Mean | $36,900 | +4.4% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $35,000 | 730 | |
| 2 | Spartanburg | $34,530 | 170 | |
| 3 | Greenville | $31,010 | 730 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $30,720 | 880 | |
| 5 | Myrtle Beach | $30,630 | 360 | |
| 6 | Florence | $29,210 | 70 | |
| 7 | Sumter | $27,180 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hilton Head Island run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $35,080 goes as far as $37,439 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,439US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,080 a year, 0.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,900 to $49,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $35,000.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Caretakers in Hilton Head Island, SC?
The median annual wage is $35,080, or $16.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,360, so pay in Hilton Head Island, SC is 0.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Hilton Head Island, SC earns more than $49,990 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,900 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Charleston, at $35,000 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 jobs in this occupation in Hilton Head Island, SC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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