Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary in the U.S.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the U.S. earn a median of $38,150 a year ($18.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 126,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,150 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $40,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| 25th percentile | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Median | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| 75th percentile | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Average (mean) | $40,340 | $19.39 |
Half of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,179.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,589.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,467.31 |
| Weekly | $733.65 |
| Hourly | $18.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $49,770 | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $49,080 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | 2,130 |
| California | $46,260 | 16,080 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | 3,270 |
| Maine | $45,510 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $44,770 | 2,220 |
| New York | $44,750 | 5,790 |
| Oregon | $44,370 | 3,170 |
| Connecticut | $44,250 | 1,390 |
| Washington | $44,150 | 4,380 |
| Hawaii | $44,070 | 570 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | 2,910 |
| Delaware | $38,610 | n/a |
| Montana | $38,340 | 550 |
| Arizona | $38,250 | 3,340 |
| Michigan | $37,960 | 4,420 |
| Wyoming | $37,880 | 150 |
| Florida | $37,830 | 6,790 |
| Utah | $37,560 | 580 |
| Idaho | $37,530 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $37,500 | 520 |
| Illinois | $37,480 | 3,270 |
| Virginia | $37,450 | 4,810 |
| Vermont | $37,290 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $37,160 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,140 | 3,760 |
| North Carolina | $37,070 | 6,910 |
| South Carolina | $36,980 | 1,720 |
| Nevada | $36,920 | 1,380 |
| New Hampshire | $36,910 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $36,850 | 2,200 |
| Missouri | $36,660 | 2,010 |
| Alaska | $36,490 | 130 |
| Indiana | $36,420 | 2,810 |
| Ohio | $36,340 | 4,640 |
| Tennessee | $36,320 | 3,530 |
| Nebraska | $36,100 | 900 |
| Georgia | $35,850 | 4,570 |
| Alabama | $35,800 | 1,240 |
| Iowa | $35,720 | 1,380 |
| Kansas | $35,680 | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $34,850 | 1,740 |
| Texas | $34,850 | 8,440 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $34,570 | 1,460 |
| Kentucky | $34,140 | 1,840 |
| West Virginia | $32,350 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $30,480 | 1,230 |
| Mississippi | $30,360 | 560 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,310 | 430 |
Best-paying metro areas for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,400 | 2,150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,210 | 620 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,200 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,270 | 350 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,150 | 200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,990 | 1,740 |
| Salinas, CA | $46,990 | 160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,720 | 1,970 |
| Vallejo, CA | $46,590 | 130 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,160 | 5,560 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,070 | 4,830 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,910 | 1,150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,790 | 1,800 |
| Napa, CA | $45,710 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,690 | 1,890 |
Metro areas with the most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,560 | $46,160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,830 | $46,070 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,880 | $36,110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,740 | $45,320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,400 | $45,640 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,390 | $38,710 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,350 | $36,040 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,190 | $39,280 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,150 | $39,840 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,150 | $49,400 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,140 | $35,370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,970 | $46,720 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,890 | $45,690 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,800 | $45,790 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,740 | $46,990 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9096. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the U.S. is $38,150 a year, or $18.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the U.S. earn at least $49,150 a year. The top 25% earn $45,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,120 a year, and a quarter of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn $35,660 or less.
How many veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work in the U.S.?
About 126,580 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.