SOC 39-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Caretakers — West Tennessee
West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in West Tennessee, TN is $28,560 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 19.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in West Tennessee, TN is $28,560 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 19.2%. Half of workers earn between $26,580 and $34,000. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $21,850 and the ninetieth at $44,740.
The area has 120 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.57 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $32,810. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 305th of 324 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,850 | −38.2% |
| 25th | $26,580 | −24.8% |
| Median (50th) | $28,560 | −19.2% |
| 75th | $34,000 | −3.8% |
| 90th | $44,740 | +26.5% |
| Mean | $31,160 | −11.9% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $32,810 | 2,300 | |
| 2 | Knoxville | $32,390 | 840 | |
| 3 | Clarksville | $31,170 | 180 | |
| 4 | Memphis | $31,070 | 850 | |
| 5 | Jackson | $30,890 | 110 | |
| 6 | Chattanooga | $30,320 | 560 | |
| 7 | Kingsport | $29,290 | 150 | |
| 8 | Cleveland | $28,770 | 120 | |
| 9 | Johnson City | $28,430 | 180 | |
| 10 | Morristown | $27,850 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in West Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $28,560 goes as far as $31,077 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,560as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,077US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,560 a year, 19.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,850 to $44,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $32,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Caretakers in West Tennessee, TN?
The median annual wage is $28,560, or $13.73 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 West Tennessee, TN is 19.2% 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 West Tennessee, TN earns more than $44,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,850 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 Nashville, at $32,810 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in West Tennessee, TN. 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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