SOC 39-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Caretakers — Trenton
Trenton-Princeton, NJ · 2 metro areas compared
At $35,170, median pay for Animal Caretakers in Trenton, NJ tracks the national median of $35,360 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,170, median pay for Animal Caretakers in Trenton, NJ tracks the national median of $35,360 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $33,730 and $39,490. The lowest tenth earn under $32,220, while the highest tenth earn more than $51,720.
The area has 280 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.67 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Atlantic City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,490. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 415th of 434 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,220 | −8.9% |
| 25th | $33,730 | −4.6% |
| Median (50th) | $35,170 | −0.5% |
| 75th | $39,490 | +11.7% |
| 90th | $51,720 | +46.3% |
| Mean | $39,060 | +10.5% |
Other metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlantic City | $37,490 | 260 | |
| 2 | Vineland | $33,760 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Trenton run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $35,170 buys what $32,325 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,170as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,325US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,170 a year, 0.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,220 to $51,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlantic City, at $37,490.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Caretakers in Trenton, NJ?
The median annual wage is $35,170, or $16.91 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 Trenton, NJ is 0.5% 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 Trenton, NJ earns more than $51,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,220 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 Atlantic City, at $37,490 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 280 jobs in this occupation in Trenton, NJ. 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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