How much do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make?
The median pay for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the United States is $38,150 per year — about $18.34 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $30,120, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $49,150.
That is $23,240 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary range by percentile
Half of all Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn between $35,660 and $45,710 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,120 | $14.48 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $35,660 | $17.14 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $38,150 | $18.34 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $45,710 | $21.98 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,150 | $23.63 |
Highest-paying states for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Rhode Island leads the country for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay at $49,770 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($49,080) and Massachusetts ($46,670). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $30,360 — a gap of $19,410 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $49,770 | $23.93 | +30% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $49,080 | $23.60 | +29% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $46,670 | $22.44 | +22% |
| 4 | California | $46,260 | $22.24 | +21% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $46,160 | $22.19 | +21% |
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 127,000 people work as Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $40,340 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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