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Animal Caretaker - Federal Salaries of 2022
Pay Rates for "Animal Caretaker"
How much does an Animal Caretaker in the federal government get paid? $49,502.86* *Based on the 2022 average.Animal Caretaker was the 310th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2022, with 237 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2022, the Agricultural Research Service hired the most employees titled Animal Caretaking, with an average salary of $49,629.
Government Animal Caretaking jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Animal Caretaking job is FWS-4, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-5. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard covers nonsupervisory work which involves providing care for mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish. This work requires knowledge of the animals' characteristics, needs, and behavior, and skill in observing, handling, and controlling them.
Agencies that have hired an Animal Caretaker
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Research Service | 112 | $49,628.55 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 36 | $48,250.25 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 33 | $44,607.30 |
| Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | 24 | $51,643.00 |
| Customs and Border Protection | 15 | $57,427.67 |
| National Park Service | 6 | $55,806.33 |
| Food and Drug Administration | 4 | $56,046.50 |
| Science and Technology Directorate | 3 | $60,940.67 |
| Forest Service | 2 | $52,425.00 |
| Bureau of Land Management | 1 | $46,102.00 |
| Geological Survey | 1 | $42,408.00 |
Animal Caretaker Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Animal Caretaker is $49,502.86. The highest paid Animal Caretaker made $84,649 in 2022.
Common Animal Caretaker Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Animal Caretaking Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 212 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 15 |
| WL - Leader Pay Schedule - Federal Wage System | 9 |
| XA - Special Overlap Area Rate Schedule - Nonsupervisory - Federal Wage System | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $8.78 to $21.06 / hour at paygrade FWS-4 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $22.47 to $9.25 / hour at paygrade FWS-5 |
| Occupation Family: | PLANT AND ANIMAL WORK FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-4 Paygrade
FWS-4 is the starting paygrade for Animal Caretaking jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-4 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Gardening | FWS-4 | FWS-8 |
| Motor Vehicle Operating | FWS-4 | FWS-8 |
| Sewing Machine Operating | FWS-3 | FWS-6 |
| Fabric Working | FWS-1 | FWS-9 |
| Laboratory Working | FWS-1 | FWS-4 |
Average Animal Caretaking Pay Trend from 2004 to 2022
In 2004, the average pay for an Animal Caretaker was $33,459. Since then, the average pay has increased to $49,503 in 2022.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 5048.