How much does an Animal Care Lead make in Pennsylvania? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Animal Care Lead in Pennsylvania is $33,134 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

However, an Animal Care Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,864
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $30,756 to $36,133
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $28,592

Key Factors That Influence Animal Care Lead Salaries

An Animal Care Lead's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Animal Care Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Animal Care Lead's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $32,330
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $32,801
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $33,217
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $33,342
  • Expert (over 8 years): $33,426
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Animal Care Lead less than 1 year $32,330
Early Career Level Animal Care Lead 1-2 years $32,801
Mid-Level Level Animal Care Lead 2-4 years $33,217
Senior-Level Level Animal Care Lead 5-8 years $33,342
Expert Level Animal Care Lead over 8 years $33,426

Top Paying Cities for Animal Care Lead

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Beaver Meadows: $32,033
  • Coaldale: $32,284
  • Conyngham: $31,735

Animal Care Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Animal Care Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Animal Care Lead positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Animal Care Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Animal Care Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare $43,074 $21.0 30%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit $36,447 $18.0 10%

Animal Care Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Animal Care Lead's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$30,756
Average $33,134/year
$36,133
$2,563
Average $2,761/month
$3,011
$591
Average $637/week
$695
$15
Average $16/hour
$17
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $36,133 $3,011 $695 $17
Average $33,134 $2,761 $637 $16
25th Percentile $30,756 $2,563 $591 $15

Find Your Next Animal Care Lead Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Animal Care Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Sandy Hill Kennels | Valencia, PA

    Sandy Hill Kennels | Valencia, PA

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. Sandy Hill Kennels is seeking dog lovers with a passion for providing top notch care, and a desire to grow w... more

    7 Days Ago

  • University of Pittsburgh | Oakland, PA

    University of Pittsburgh | Oakland, PA

    Animal Care Technician I DLAR-Animal Husbandry - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - (26005086) The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) Animal Care Techni... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Clemens Food Group | Blain, PA

    Clemens Food Group | Blain, PA

    Animal Care Specialist. Country View Family Farms (CVFF) is a progressive and innovative agricultural operation focused on excellence in sow and piglet car... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Country View Family Farms | Hustontown, PA

    Country View Family Farms | Hustontown, PA

    Animal Care Specialist. Country View Family Farms (CVFF) is a progressive and innovative agricultural operation focused on excellence in sow and piglet car... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Clemens Food Group | Morris, PA

    Clemens Food Group | Morris, PA

    Animal Care Specialist. Country View Family Farms (CVFF) is a progressive and innovative agricultural operation focused on excellence in sow and piglet car... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Women's Animal Center | Bensalem, PA

    Women's Animal Center | Bensalem, PA

    Women's Animal Center is seeking a compassionate and dependable part-time Animal Care Attendant to join our shelter team.This hands-on role is a great oppo... more

    8 Days Ago

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Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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