SOC 39-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Caretakers — Southern Michigan
Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Animal Caretakers in Southern Michigan, MI is $28,700 per year, 18.8% below the national median of $35,360.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Animal Caretakers in Southern Michigan, MI is $28,700 per year, 18.8% below the national median of $35,360. Pay ranges from under $25,960 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,570 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $28,150 to $35,670.
The area has 240 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.8 of every thousand jobs. Ann Arbor leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $33,520. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 351st of 361 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 | −26.6% |
| 25th | $28,150 | −20.4% |
| Median (50th) | $28,700 | −18.8% |
| 75th | $35,670 | +0.9% |
| 90th | $44,570 | +26.0% |
| Mean | $32,600 | −7.8% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ann Arbor | $33,520 | 320 | |
| 2 | Traverse City | $31,970 | 80 | |
| 3 | Battle Creek | $31,940 | 80 | |
| 4 | Saginaw | $31,200 | 110 | |
| 5 | Flint | $31,110 | 200 | |
| 6 | Detroit | $31,040 | 2,800 | |
| 7 | Lansing | $30,670 | 390 | |
| 8 | Midland | $30,220 | 50 | |
| 9 | Niles | $29,870 | 140 | |
| 10 | Monroe | $29,820 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southern Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $28,700 goes as far as $29,834 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$29,834US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,700 a year, 18.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,960 to $44,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 240 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ann Arbor, at $33,520.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Caretakers in Southern Michigan, MI?
The median annual wage is $28,700, or $13.80 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 Southern Michigan, MI is 18.8% 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 Southern Michigan, MI earns more than $44,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $25,960 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 Ann Arbor, at $33,520 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 240 jobs in this occupation in Southern Michigan, MI. 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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