Animal Caretakers pay in Washington
$46,160avg. a year
$22.19 an hour · 6,620 employed
Animal Caretakers in Washington earn an average of $46,160 a year. That is $8,860 (24%) more than the U.S. average of $37,300. The best-paying metro area is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $47,810.
$40,570Median pay
$22.19Average hourly
+35%Avg. pay since 2020
#2Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Washington metro areas
Average pay for animal caretakers by metro area. Swipe to see all 12.
13,950 jobs
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$47,810
$22.99 an hour
2260 jobs
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
$45,760
$22.00 an hour
3190 jobs
Kennewick-Richland, WA
$45,270
$21.76 an hour
4240 jobs
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
$44,370
$21.33 an hour
5110 jobs
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
$43,660
$20.99 an hour
6410 jobs
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
$43,540
$20.94 an hour
7230 jobs
Bellingham, WA
$43,390
$20.86 an hour
870 jobs
Longview-Kelso, WA
$43,150
$20.74 an hour
92,240 jobs
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
$42,370
$20.37 an hour
1080 jobs
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA
$41,660
$20.03 an hour
11110 jobs
Yakima, WA
$41,000
$19.71 an hour
1250 jobs
Lewiston, ID-WA
$34,240
$16.46 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Animal Caretakers pay in Washington, charted
Pay over time
Washington, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Washington animal caretakers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Washington highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $34k$34k–$36k$36k–$40k$40k+Washington
Washington vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $37,300 | $17.94 |
| Washington | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Oregon | $40,380 | $19.42 |
| Idaho | $34,970 | $16.81 |
Related jobs in Washington
Average pay, Washington, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do animal caretakers make in Washington?
The average is $46,160 a year, and the median is $40,570. That is $8,860 (24%) more than the U.S. average of $37,300.
What is the hourly wage in Washington?
$22.19 an hour on average; the median is $19.51.
Where in Washington do they earn the most?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,810), followed by Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA ($45,760). The lowest average among 12 metro areas with data is Lewiston, ID-WA ($34,240).
How does Washington rank?
Washington ranks #2 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 39-2021. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national animal caretakers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.