31 Series · SOC 31-9096
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $38,150
- Median / year
- $49,150
- Top 10% earn
- +8.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 126,580
- US workers
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn a median of $38,150 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $38,150, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $30,120 (10th percentile) to $49,150 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 126,580 US workers. Rhode Island pays the most ($49,770), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn a median of $38,150, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 9% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Support, it ranks #14 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% by 2033.
- $38,150
- Median annual wage
- Top 91%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #14 of 17
- in Healthcare Support
- 1.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Rhode Island at $49,770. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (SOC 31-9096) pays a national median of $38,150 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $30,120 at the 10th percentile to $49,150 at the 90th, with a mean of $40,340 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 126,580 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 391 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +8.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 22,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 5.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Rhode Island pays the highest state median at $49,770, which is +30% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $49,400 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 126,580 jobs Median $38,150/yr
Median Salary
$38,150
per year
Median Hourly
$18.34/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$40,340
average
Employment
126,580
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$38,150 Bottom 9% higher than 9% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 31-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 31-series occupations with growth data, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers sits on the faster-growing side at +8.7% growth and $38,150 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+8.7%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
22,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
5.5/100
Danger Index
22.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.5
Critical Thinking 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Writing 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Service Orientation 3.1
Speaking 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Time Management 3.0
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 4.3
English Language 3.8
Biology 3.6
Administrative 3.5
Medicine and Dentistry 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.2
Mathematics 2.9
Communications and Media 2.6
Sales and Marketing 2.6
Telecommunications 2.6
Key Tasks
- ▸ Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- ▸ Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- ▸ Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
- ▸ Fill medication prescriptions.
- ▸ Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- ▸ Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- ▸ Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- ▸ Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
- ▸ Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
- ▸ Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$30,120
25th Percentile
$35,660
Median
$38,150
75th Percentile
$45,710
90th Percentile
$49,150
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $49,770 | +30% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $49,080 | +29% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $46,670 | +22% above national |
| 4 | California | $46,260 | +21% above national |
| 5 | New Jersey | $46,160 | +21% above national |
| 6 | Maine | $45,510 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Minnesota | $45,280 | +19% above national |
| 8 | Maryland | $44,770 | +17% above national |
| 9 | New York | $44,750 | +17% above national |
| 10 | Oregon | $44,370 | +16% above national |
| 11 | Connecticut | $44,250 | +16% above national |
| 12 | Washington | $44,150 | +16% above national |
| 13 | Hawaii | $44,070 | +16% above national |
| 14 | Colorado | $38,900 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Delaware | $38,610 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Montana | $38,340 | same as national |
| 17 | Arizona | $38,250 | same as national |
| 18 | Michigan | $37,960 | same as national |
| 19 | Wyoming | $37,880 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Florida | $37,830 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Utah | $37,560 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Idaho | $37,530 | 2% below national |
| 23 | New Mexico | $37,500 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Illinois | $37,480 | 2% below national |
| 25 | Virginia | $37,450 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Vermont | $37,290 | 2% below national |
| 27 | North Dakota | $37,160 | 3% below national |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $37,140 | 3% below national |
| 29 | North Carolina | $37,070 | 3% below national |
| 30 | South Carolina | $36,980 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Nevada | $36,920 | 3% below national |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $36,910 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $36,850 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Missouri | $36,660 | 4% below national |
| 35 | Alaska | $36,490 | 4% below national |
| 36 | Indiana | $36,420 | 5% below national |
| 37 | Ohio | $36,340 | 5% below national |
| 38 | Tennessee | $36,320 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Nebraska | $36,100 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Georgia | $35,850 | 6% below national |
| 41 | Alabama | $35,800 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,720 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Kansas | $35,680 | 6% below national |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $34,850 | 9% below national |
| 45 | Texas | $34,850 | 9% below national |
| 46 | South Dakota | $34,700 | 9% below national |
| 47 | Arkansas | $34,570 | 9% below national |
| 48 | Kentucky | $34,140 | 11% below national |
| 49 | West Virginia | $32,350 | 15% below national |
| 50 | Louisiana | $30,480 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,360 | 20% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $23,310 | 39% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 391 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,400 | +29% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,210 | +29% above national |
| 3 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,200 | +29% above national |
| 4 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,270 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,150 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,990 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Salinas, CA | $46,990 | +23% above national |
| 8 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,720 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Vallejo, CA | $46,590 | +22% above national |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,160 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,070 | +21% above national |
| 12 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,910 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $45,810 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,790 | +20% above national |
| 15 | Napa, CA | $45,710 | +20% above national |
| 16 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,690 | +20% above national |
| 17 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45,640 | +20% above national |
| 18 | Modesto, CA | $45,560 | +19% above national |
| 19 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $45,530 | +19% above national |
| 20 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $45,490 | +19% above national |
| 21 | Yuba City, CA | $45,490 | +19% above national |
| 22 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $45,470 | +19% above national |
| 23 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $45,320 | +19% above national |
| 24 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $45,260 | +19% above national |
| 25 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,150 | +18% above national |
| 26 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,810 | +17% above national |
| 27 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $44,530 | +17% above national |
| 28 | Salem, OR | $44,460 | +17% above national |
| 29 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,260 | +16% above national |
| 30 | Bend, OR | $44,190 | +16% above national |
| 31 | Bellingham, WA | $44,160 | +16% above national |
| 32 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $44,140 | +16% above national |
| 33 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $44,110 | +16% above national |
| 34 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $44,090 | +16% above national |
| 35 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $44,070 | +16% above national |
| 36 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,050 | +15% above national |
| 37 | Fresno, CA | $44,040 | +15% above national |
| 38 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $44,020 | +15% above national |
| 39 | Redding, CA | $43,930 | +15% above national |
| 40 | Ithaca, NY | $43,900 | +15% above national |
| 41 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $43,840 | +15% above national |
| 42 | Chico, CA | $43,830 | +15% above national |
| 43 | Worcester, MA | $43,510 | +14% above national |
| 44 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $43,270 | +13% above national |
| 45 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $43,190 | +13% above national |
| 46 | Bozeman, MT | $42,740 | +12% above national |
| 47 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $42,590 | +12% above national |
| 48 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $41,600 | +9% above national |
| 49 | Boulder, CO | $40,390 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $40,100 | +5% above national |
| 51 | Merced, CA | $40,040 | +5% above national |
| 52 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,850 | +4% above national |
| 53 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $39,840 | +4% above national |
| 54 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $39,760 | +4% above national |
| 55 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $39,670 | +4% above national |
| 56 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $39,520 | +4% above national |
| 57 | Santa Fe, NM | $39,500 | +4% above national |
| 58 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $39,480 | +3% above national |
| 59 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $39,400 | +3% above national |
| 60 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $39,380 | +3% above national |
| 61 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $39,290 | +3% above national |
| 62 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,280 | +3% above national |
| 63 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $39,240 | +3% above national |
| 64 | Barnstable Town, MA | $39,170 | +3% above national |
| 65 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $39,160 | +3% above national |
| 66 | Anchorage, AK | $39,110 | +3% above national |
| 67 | Syracuse, NY | $39,020 | +2% above national |
| 68 | Vineland, NJ | $39,000 | +2% above national |
| 69 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,990 | +2% above national |
| 70 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,970 | +2% above national |
| 71 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $38,910 | +2% above national |
| 72 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $38,870 | +2% above national |
| 73 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $38,850 | +2% above national |
| 74 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $38,830 | +2% above national |
| 75 | Corvallis, OR | $38,820 | +2% above national |
| 76 | Midland, MI | $38,740 | +2% above national |
| 77 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $38,710 | +1% above national |
| 78 | Kingston, NY | $38,690 | +1% above national |
| 79 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $38,620 | +1% above national |
| 80 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,530 | +1% above national |
| 81 | Missoula, MT | $38,520 | +1% above national |
| 82 | Madison, WI | $38,490 | +1% above national |
| 83 | Visalia, CA | $38,410 | +1% above national |
| 84 | Ann Arbor, MI | $38,350 | +1% above national |
| 85 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,340 | same as national |
| 86 | Grants Pass, OR | $38,310 | same as national |
| 87 | Ames, IA | $38,300 | same as national |
| 88 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $38,290 | same as national |
| 89 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $38,270 | same as national |
| 90 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $38,220 | same as national |
| 91 | Traverse City, MI | $38,130 | same as national |
| 92 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $38,120 | same as national |
| 93 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $38,120 | same as national |
| 94 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $38,110 | same as national |
| 95 | Medford, OR | $38,080 | same as national |
| 96 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,050 | same as national |
| 97 | Springfield, IL | $38,050 | same as national |
| 98 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $38,030 | same as national |
| 99 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $38,000 | same as national |
| 100 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $37,980 | same as national |
| 101 | Reno, NV | $37,970 | same as national |
| 102 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $37,920 | 1% below national |
| 103 | Glens Falls, NY | $37,900 | 1% below national |
| 104 | Boise City, ID | $37,890 | 1% below national |
| 105 | Albany, OR | $37,880 | 1% below national |
| 106 | Albuquerque, NM | $37,870 | 1% below national |
| 107 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $37,870 | 1% below national |
| 108 | Bangor, ME | $37,840 | 1% below national |
| 109 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $37,810 | 1% below national |
| 110 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $37,800 | 1% below national |
| 111 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $37,800 | 1% below national |
| 112 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,790 | 1% below national |
| 113 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,790 | 1% below national |
| 114 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,780 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Duluth, MN-WI | $37,770 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37,770 | 1% below national |
| 117 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $37,730 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,720 | 1% below national |
| 119 | Lawrence, KS | $37,720 | 1% below national |
| 120 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,710 | 1% below national |
| 121 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $37,690 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $37,670 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Rockford, IL | $37,670 | 1% below national |
| 124 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $37,660 | 1% below national |
| 125 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $37,650 | 1% below national |
| 126 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $37,650 | 1% below national |
| 127 | Appleton, WI | $37,610 | 1% below national |
| 128 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,600 | 1% below national |
| 129 | Rochester, NY | $37,580 | 1% below national |
| 130 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,560 | 2% below national |
| 131 | State College, PA | $37,500 | 2% below national |
| 132 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $37,490 | 2% below national |
| 133 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $37,490 | 2% below national |
| 134 | Charlottesville, VA | $37,480 | 2% below national |
| 135 | Richmond, VA | $37,470 | 2% below national |
| 136 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 137 | Punta Gorda, FL | $37,390 | 2% below national |
| 138 | Flint, MI | $37,370 | 2% below national |
| 139 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $37,330 | 2% below national |
| 140 | Eau Claire, WI | $37,320 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $37,320 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Columbus, OH | $37,280 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $37,260 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,220 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $37,190 | 3% below national |
| 146 | Idaho Falls, ID | $37,180 | 3% below national |
| 147 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,170 | 3% below national |
| 148 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $37,160 | 3% below national |
| 149 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $37,160 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $37,140 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Lebanon, PA | $37,110 | 3% below national |
| 152 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,990 | 3% below national |
| 153 | Birmingham, AL | $36,980 | 3% below national |
| 154 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $36,960 | 3% below national |
| 155 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,940 | 3% below national |
| 156 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $36,920 | 3% below national |
| 157 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,890 | 3% below national |
| 158 | Lincoln, NE | $36,870 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Ogden, UT | $36,870 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $36,870 | 3% below national |
| 161 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $36,860 | 3% below national |
| 162 | Wilmington, NC | $36,860 | 3% below national |
| 163 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $36,850 | 3% below national |
| 164 | Omaha, NE-IA | $36,840 | 3% below national |
| 165 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $36,810 | 4% below national |
| 166 | Jackson, MI | $36,800 | 4% below national |
| 167 | Reading, PA | $36,780 | 4% below national |
| 168 | Pueblo, CO | $36,760 | 4% below national |
| 169 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $36,720 | 4% below national |
| 170 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $36,710 | 4% below national |
| 171 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $36,700 | 4% below national |
| 172 | Cleveland, OH | $36,680 | 4% below national |
| 173 | Columbia, SC | $36,680 | 4% below national |
| 174 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $36,680 | 4% below national |
| 175 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $36,680 | 4% below national |
| 176 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $36,670 | 4% below national |
| 177 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,670 | 4% below national |
| 178 | Bismarck, ND | $36,660 | 4% below national |
| 179 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $36,650 | 4% below national |
| 180 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | 4% below national |
| 181 | York-Hanover, PA | $36,640 | 4% below national |
| 182 | Winston-Salem, NC | $36,620 | 4% below national |
| 183 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $36,570 | 4% below national |
| 184 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $36,570 | 4% below national |
| 185 | Bloomington, IL | $36,540 | 4% below national |
| 186 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,530 | 4% below national |
| 187 | Gainesville, FL | $36,510 | 4% below national |
| 188 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,500 | 4% below national |
| 189 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,470 | 4% below national |
| 190 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,460 | 4% below national |
| 191 | Binghamton, NY | $36,440 | 4% below national |
| 192 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $36,440 | 4% below national |
| 193 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,440 | 4% below national |
| 194 | Tucson, AZ | $36,430 | 5% below national |
| 195 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,430 | 5% below national |
| 196 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,420 | 5% below national |
| 197 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,420 | 5% below national |
| 198 | Akron, OH | $36,400 | 5% below national |
| 199 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,400 | 5% below national |
| 200 | Greeley, CO | $36,380 | 5% below national |
| 201 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $36,360 | 5% below national |
| 202 | Pocatello, ID | $36,360 | 5% below national |
| 203 | Wausau, WI | $36,350 | 5% below national |
| 204 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,340 | 5% below national |
| 205 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,320 | 5% below national |
| 206 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,310 | 5% below national |
| 207 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $36,310 | 5% below national |
| 208 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,290 | 5% below national |
| 209 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $36,280 | 5% below national |
| 210 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $36,270 | 5% below national |
| 211 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $36,250 | 5% below national |
| 212 | Utica-Rome, NY | $36,250 | 5% below national |
| 213 | Kenosha, WI | $36,240 | 5% below national |
| 214 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $36,240 | 5% below national |
| 215 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $36,240 | 5% below national |
| 216 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,230 | 5% below national |
| 217 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,210 | 5% below national |
| 218 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,170 | 5% below national |
| 219 | Saginaw, MI | $36,170 | 5% below national |
| 220 | Ocala, FL | $36,160 | 5% below national |
| 221 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,130 | 5% below national |
| 222 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $36,110 | 5% below national |
| 223 | Fargo, ND-MN | $36,100 | 5% below national |
| 224 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,040 | 6% below national |
| 225 | Tallahassee, FL | $36,030 | 6% below national |
| 226 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,020 | 6% below national |
| 227 | Gainesville, GA | $36,020 | 6% below national |
| 228 | Topeka, KS | $36,020 | 6% below national |
| 229 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,020 | 6% below national |
| 230 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $36,010 | 6% below national |
| 231 | Green Bay, WI | $35,990 | 6% below national |
| 232 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $35,990 | 6% below national |
| 233 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $35,980 | 6% below national |
| 234 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $35,960 | 6% below national |
| 235 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $35,950 | 6% below national |
| 236 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 6% below national |
| 237 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,950 | 6% below national |
| 238 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,940 | 6% below national |
| 239 | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,930 | 6% below national |
| 240 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $35,930 | 6% below national |
| 241 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $35,930 | 6% below national |
| 242 | Jefferson City, MO | $35,920 | 6% below national |
| 243 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,900 | 6% below national |
| 244 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $35,880 | 6% below national |
| 245 | Huntsville, AL | $35,870 | 6% below national |
| 246 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,870 | 6% below national |
| 247 | Jackson, TN | $35,840 | 6% below national |
| 248 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $35,840 | 6% below national |
| 249 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $35,840 | 6% below national |
| 250 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,830 | 6% below national |
| 251 | Grand Junction, CO | $35,810 | 6% below national |
| 252 | Las Cruces, NM | $35,800 | 6% below national |
| 253 | Gettysburg, PA | $35,780 | 6% below national |
| 254 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $35,780 | 6% below national |
| 255 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,780 | 6% below national |
| 256 | Savannah, GA | $35,770 | 6% below national |
| 257 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $35,760 | 6% below national |
| 258 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,750 | 6% below national |
| 259 | Winchester, VA-WV | $35,750 | 6% below national |
| 260 | Bay City, MI | $35,740 | 6% below national |
| 261 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $35,730 | 6% below national |
| 262 | Burlington, NC | $35,690 | 6% below national |
| 263 | Knoxville, TN | $35,660 | 7% below national |
| 264 | Toledo, OH | $35,660 | 7% below national |
| 265 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $35,660 | 7% below national |
| 266 | Rapid City, SD | $35,640 | 7% below national |
| 267 | Oklahoma City, OK | $35,630 | 7% below national |
| 268 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,610 | 7% below national |
| 269 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,600 | 7% below national |
| 270 | Chambersburg, PA | $35,590 | 7% below national |
| 271 | Evansville, IN | $35,570 | 7% below national |
| 272 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,560 | 7% below national |
| 273 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,540 | 7% below national |
| 274 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $35,530 | 7% below national |
| 275 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,530 | 7% below national |
| 276 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,530 | 7% below national |
| 277 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $35,520 | 7% below national |
| 278 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $35,490 | 7% below national |
| 279 | Harrisonburg, VA | $35,440 | 7% below national |
| 280 | Roanoke, VA | $35,410 | 7% below national |
| 281 | Tulsa, OK | $35,410 | 7% below national |
| 282 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,380 | 7% below national |
| 283 | Fayetteville, NC | $35,370 | 7% below national |
| 284 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,370 | 7% below national |
| 285 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $35,370 | 7% below national |
| 286 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | 7% below national |
| 287 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $35,350 | 7% below national |
| 288 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $35,340 | 7% below national |
| 289 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,330 | 7% below national |
| 290 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $35,320 | 7% below national |
| 291 | Warner Robins, GA | $35,320 | 7% below national |
| 292 | Iowa City, IA | $35,310 | 7% below national |
| 293 | Morgantown, WV | $35,310 | 7% below national |
| 294 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,310 | 7% below national |
| 295 | Battle Creek, MI | $35,260 | 8% below national |
| 296 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $35,240 | 8% below national |
| 297 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $35,230 | 8% below national |
| 298 | Peoria, IL | $35,220 | 8% below national |
| 299 | Morristown, TN | $35,210 | 8% below national |
| 300 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $35,180 | 8% below national |
| 301 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $35,150 | 8% below national |
| 302 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,140 | 8% below national |
| 303 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,120 | 8% below national |
| 304 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $35,060 | 8% below national |
| 305 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,050 | 8% below national |
| 306 | Jacksonville, NC | $35,010 | 8% below national |
| 307 | Greenville, NC | $34,940 | 8% below national |
| 308 | Lynchburg, VA | $34,940 | 8% below national |
| 309 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $34,930 | 8% below national |
| 310 | Bloomington, IN | $34,920 | 8% below national |
| 311 | Grand Island, NE | $34,920 | 8% below national |
| 312 | Columbia, MO | $34,900 | 9% below national |
| 313 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $34,900 | 9% below national |
| 314 | Erie, PA | $34,890 | 9% below national |
| 315 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $34,880 | 9% below national |
| 316 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,810 | 9% below national |
| 317 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $34,720 | 9% below national |
| 318 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,710 | 9% below national |
| 319 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $34,660 | 9% below national |
| 320 | Wichita, KS | $34,650 | 9% below national |
| 321 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,630 | 9% below national |
| 322 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $34,580 | 9% below national |
| 323 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $34,540 | 9% below national |
| 324 | Johnson City, TN | $34,520 | 10% below national |
| 325 | Rocky Mount, NC | $34,450 | 10% below national |
| 326 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $34,400 | 10% below national |
| 327 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $34,390 | 10% below national |
| 328 | Beckley, WV | $34,270 | 10% below national |
| 329 | Lima, OH | $34,270 | 10% below national |
| 330 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $34,260 | 10% below national |
| 331 | Springfield, MO | $34,230 | 10% below national |
| 332 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,230 | 10% below national |
| 333 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $34,110 | 11% below national |
| 334 | Rome, GA | $34,050 | 11% below national |
| 335 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $34,020 | 11% below national |
| 336 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $33,940 | 11% below national |
| 337 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $33,910 | 11% below national |
| 338 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $33,840 | 11% below national |
| 339 | Joplin, MO-KS | $33,800 | 11% below national |
| 340 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $33,690 | 12% below national |
| 341 | Corpus Christi, TX | $33,650 | 12% below national |
| 342 | Manhattan, KS | $33,630 | 12% below national |
| 343 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $33,590 | 12% below national |
| 344 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $33,440 | 12% below national |
| 345 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $33,280 | 13% below national |
| 346 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $33,000 | 13% below national |
| 347 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $32,610 | 15% below national |
| 348 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $32,590 | 15% below national |
| 349 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $32,590 | 15% below national |
| 350 | Charleston, WV | $32,070 | 16% below national |
| 351 | Logan, UT-ID | $31,890 | 16% below national |
| 352 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $31,540 | 17% below national |
| 353 | Bowling Green, KY | $31,050 | 19% below national |
| 354 | Columbus, GA-AL | $31,000 | 19% below national |
| 355 | Baton Rouge, LA | $30,930 | 19% below national |
| 356 | Jonesboro, AR | $30,620 | 20% below national |
| 357 | Hot Springs, AR | $30,540 | 20% below national |
| 358 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $30,490 | 20% below national |
| 359 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $30,420 | 20% below national |
| 360 | Longview, TX | $30,320 | 21% below national |
| 361 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $30,280 | 21% below national |
| 362 | Amarillo, TX | $30,210 | 21% below national |
| 363 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $30,140 | 21% below national |
| 364 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $30,050 | 21% below national |
| 365 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $29,980 | 21% below national |
| 366 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,980 | 21% below national |
| 367 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,970 | 21% below national |
| 368 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $29,960 | 21% below national |
| 369 | Spartanburg, SC | $29,900 | 22% below national |
| 370 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $29,900 | 22% below national |
| 371 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $29,750 | 22% below national |
| 372 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $29,720 | 22% below national |
| 373 | Abilene, TX | $29,710 | 22% below national |
| 374 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,690 | 22% below national |
| 375 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $29,560 | 23% below national |
| 376 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,450 | 23% below national |
| 377 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,300 | 23% below national |
| 378 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,210 | 23% below national |
| 379 | Hattiesburg, MS | $28,850 | 24% below national |
| 380 | Alexandria, LA | $28,700 | 25% below national |
| 381 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,670 | 25% below national |
| 382 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $28,650 | 25% below national |
| 383 | Jackson, MS | $28,570 | 25% below national |
| 384 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,430 | 25% below national |
| 385 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $28,380 | 26% below national |
| 386 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $28,280 | 26% below national |
| 387 | El Paso, TX | $28,140 | 26% below national |
| 388 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,100 | 26% below national |
| 389 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,820 | 27% below national |
| 390 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $23,340 | 39% below national |
| 391 | Mayaguez, PR | $22,490 | 41% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 31 (healthcare support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is $38,150 ($18.34/hour). The salary range spans from $30,120 at the 10th percentile to $49,150 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers the most? ▼
Rhode Island pays the highest median salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers at $49,770/year, which is +30% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers? ▼
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 5.5 per 100 workers.
Is Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers a good career? ▼
Employment for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 22,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay vary by state? ▼
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Rhode Island at $49,770/year, while Kentucky pays the least at $34,140/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $49,400/year. BLS reports wage data for 391 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $45,710/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Rhode Island leads at $49,770/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.