Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary in Ohio
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Ohio earned a median of $36,340 a year ($17.47 an hour) and a mean of $37,200 in May 2025. The median is 4.7% below the U.S. median of $38,150, ranking 37th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $36,340
- Median hourly
- $17.47
- Mean annual
- $37,200
- Jobs on record
- 4,640
Grey needle: U.S. median, $38,150 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Ohio compare on pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Ohio ranks 37th of 52 states and territories. Rhode Island is highest at $49,770, $13,430 more than the Ohio median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 35 | $36,490 | -4% | 130 |
| Indiana | 36 | $36,420 | -5% | 2,810 |
| Ohio | 37 | $36,340 | -5% | 4,640 |
| Tennessee | 38 | $36,320 | -5% | 3,530 |
| Nebraska | 39 | $36,100 | -5% | 900 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Ohio pay go further after prices?
Prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the U.S. average, so the $36,340 median buys about what $39,170 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $38,150 U.S. median. On this measure Ohio ranks 31st of 51, up from 37th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Ohio pay veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the most?
Columbus, OH is highest at $37,280, 2.6% above the Ohio median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $37,280 | 1,100 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,890 | 1,000 |
| Cleveland, OH | $36,680 | 700 |
| Akron, OH | $36,400 | 300 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,020 | 320 |
| Toledo, OH | $35,660 | 200 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $35,240 | 320 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,050 | 170 |
| Lima, OH | $34,270 | 30 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $34,260 | 130 |
| Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,230 | 130 |
| Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $30,280 | 130 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Ohio is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work in Ohio?
BLS counts 4,640 jobs in Ohio, 3.7% of the 126,580 in the U.S. That is the 7th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in Ohio, a location quotient of 1.03: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.03 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Ohio minimum wage compare with pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Ohio was $14.10 in May 2025, $3.10 above the $11.00 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date. $11.00 for employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more; smaller employers $7.25.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Ohio
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.