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What does a Animal Caretakers salary really buy you in Maryland?
Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Animal Caretakers earning $36,780 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $35,028 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $31,500 | $30,000 | $-1,500 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $34,450 | $32,809 | $-1,640 |
| Median (P50) | $36,780 | $35,028 | $-1,751 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $46,790 | $44,561 | $-2,228 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $56,730 | $54,028 | $-2,701 |
While $36,780 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $35,028. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Maryland's RPP of 105.0 puts it 5.0% above the national baseline cost of living. A Animal Caretakers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Maryland's RPP, the $36,780 median salary translates to $35,029 in real terms — a 4.8% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Animal Caretakers.
Maryland sits at #21 of 51 states for Animal Caretakers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Animal Caretakers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Maryland ranks #21 out of 51 states for Animal Caretakers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Animal Caretakers take-home pay in Maryland after taxes →
A Animal Caretakers in Maryland earns a median salary of $36,780 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $35,028 — a -4.8% difference.
Maryland's cost of living is 5.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Animal Caretakers in Maryland: $36,780 x (100 / 105.0) = $35,028. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Animal Caretakers's nominal salary of $36,780 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $35,028. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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