Wages vary with the type of employer and the cost of living in the area. Pay is often higher in local government agencies, where workers enforce leash laws and operate animal shelters.
Animal caretakers who work full time usually receive benefits. Common benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.
Animal caretakers (SOC 39-2021)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $14.79 | $17.03 | $17.98 |
| Yearly | $30,750 | $35,419 | $37,394 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $14.55 | $14.82 | $16.79 |
| Yearly | $30,269 | $30,816 | $34,940 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $14.69 | $16.74 |
| Yearly | $29,948 | $30,550 | $34,829 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $15.43 | $17.44 | $18.49 |
| Yearly | $32,084 | $36,273 | $38,464 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $14.62 | $16.91 |
| Yearly | $29,948 | $30,425 | $35,158 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $15.27 | $17.33 | $18.04 |
| Yearly | $31,772 | $36,054 | $37,516 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $15.51 | $17.28 | $18.00 |
| Yearly | $32,267 | $35,943 | $37,430 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $14.54 | $14.72 | $16.91 |
| Yearly | $30,250 | $30,608 | $35,169 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $14.45 | $14.81 | $17.53 |
| Yearly | $30,061 | $30,810 | $36,483 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $14.46 | $15.07 |
| Yearly | $29,948 | $30,073 | $31,334 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $15.21 | $17.28 | $17.93 |
| Yearly | $31,629 | $35,943 | $37,291 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $14.96 | $17.43 | $17.71 |
| Yearly | $31,129 | $36,253 | $36,839 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $14.48 | $16.51 |
| Yearly | $29,948 | $30,120 | $34,336 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $14.92 | $16.68 |
| Yearly | $29,948 | $31,030 | $34,692 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $14.61 | $16.48 |
| Yearly | $29,948 | $30,390 | $34,279 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $14.54 | $14.80 | $16.84 |
| Yearly | $30,246 | $30,792 | $35,020 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $14.73 | $16.58 |
| Yearly | $29,948 | $30,636 | $34,472 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $14.42 | $14.82 | $16.91 |
| Yearly | $29,980 | $30,833 | $35,176 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $14.50 | $14.57 | $16.37 |
| Yearly | $30,154 | $30,310 | $34,052 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $15.31 | $17.34 | $17.84 |
| Yearly | $31,845 | $36,068 | $37,123 | |
| United States | Hourly | $13.88 | $16.09 | $17.87 |
| Yearly | $28,870 | $33,470 | $37,160 | |