Salaries › Animal Caretaker › Virginia
Animal Caretaker Salary in Virginia (2026)
$16.53 per hour · take-home ≈ $28,588/year ($2,382/month) for a single filer
Virginia ranks 21st of 51 states for Animal Caretaker pay, with a median about 1% above the national average. Of the 10,070 Animal Caretaker jobs BLS counts in Virginia, the typical worker earns $34,380 a year — though pay ranges from $28,050 for newcomers to $46,180 at the top.
Animal Caretaker pay range in Virginia
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,050 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $29,490 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,380 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,120 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $46,180 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 10,070 Animal Caretaker jobs in Virginia (occupation code 39-2021, “Animal Caretakers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Virginia
A median Animal Caretaker salary of $34,380 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Virginia state income tax, a single filer keeps about $28,588 — an effective tax rate of 16.8%.
| Gross (median) | $34,380 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,946 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,630 |
| Virginia state income tax | −$1,216 |
| Take-home (annual) | $28,588 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,382 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Virginia paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Animal Caretaker make in Virginia?
- The median Animal Caretaker salary in Virginia is $34,380 per year ($16.53 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $29,490 and $38,120.
- What is the take-home pay for a Animal Caretaker in Virginia?
- On the median salary of $34,380, a single filer in Virginia takes home about $28,588 per year ($2,382 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.8%.
- How many Animal Caretaker jobs are there in Virginia?
- BLS counts 10,070 Animal Caretaker jobs in Virginia in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Animal Caretakers
Other salaries in Virginia
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Virginia state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Virginia.