SOC 39-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Caretakers — Southwest Louisiana
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Animal Caretakers in Southwest Louisiana, LA is $23,130 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,360 — a gap of 34.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Animal Caretakers in Southwest Louisiana, LA is $23,130 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,360 — a gap of 34.6%. Pay ranges from under $19,080 at the tenth percentile to more than $36,330 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $21,030 to $26,730.
Employment stands at 70, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. New Orleans leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $29,090. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 243rd of 259 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19,080 | −46.0% |
| 25th | $21,030 | −40.5% |
| Median (50th) | $23,130 | −34.6% |
| 75th | $26,730 | −24.4% |
| 90th | $36,330 | +2.7% |
| Mean | $26,000 | −26.5% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | $29,090 | 840 | |
| 2 | Houma | $27,930 | 50 | |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $27,640 | 490 | |
| 4 | Shreveport | $27,350 | 240 | |
| 5 | Alexandria | $27,060 | 70 | |
| 6 | Slidell | $26,960 | 300 | |
| 7 | Monroe | $26,530 | 100 | |
| 8 | Lafayette | $26,330 | 280 | |
| 9 | Lake Charles | $26,160 | 90 | |
| 10 | Hammond | $23,820 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $23,130 goes as far as $26,224 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 25.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$23,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,224US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $23,130 a year, 34.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $19,080 to $36,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New Orleans, at $29,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Caretakers in Southwest Louisiana, LA?
The median annual wage is $23,130, or $11.12 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 Southwest Louisiana, LA is 34.6% 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 Southwest Louisiana, LA earns more than $36,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $19,080 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 New Orleans, at $29,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Louisiana, LA. 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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