BLS metro-level wage data places Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area at a median of $39,290 per year ($18.89/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $38,150, Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area pays +3% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 80 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakerss are employed across the Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area MSA in SOC 31-9096.

The Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area pay distribution spans from $37,520 at the 10th percentile to $46,850 at the 90th — a 1.2× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $37,890 and the 75th at $45,810, so half of Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area-based veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakerss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide CA data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.