How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $18.34 an hour or $3,179 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.34
- Average (mean)
- $40,340
- Jobs
- 126,580
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,120 | $14.48 | |
| 25th | $35,660 | $17.14 | |
| Median | $38,150 | $18.34 | |
| 75th | $45,710 | $21.98 | |
| 90th | $49,150 | $23.63 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Rhode Island | $49,770 |
| District of Columbia | $49,080 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 |
| California | $46,260 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 |
| Maine | $45,510 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 |
| Maryland | $44,770 |
| New York | $44,750 |
| Oregon | $44,370 |
| Connecticut | $44,250 |
| Washington | $44,150 |
| Hawaii | $44,070 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Delaware | $38,610 |
| Montana | $38,340 |
| Arizona | $38,250 |
| Michigan | $37,960 |
| Wyoming | $37,880 |
| Florida | $37,830 |
| Utah | $37,560 |
| Idaho | $37,530 |
| New Mexico | $37,500 |
| Illinois | $37,480 |
| Virginia | $37,450 |
| Vermont | $37,290 |
| North Dakota | $37,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,140 |
| North Carolina | $37,070 |
| South Carolina | $36,980 |
| Nevada | $36,920 |
| New Hampshire | $36,910 |
| Wisconsin | $36,850 |
| Missouri | $36,660 |
| Alaska | $36,490 |
| Indiana | $36,420 |
| Ohio | $36,340 |
| Tennessee | $36,320 |
| Nebraska | $36,100 |
| Georgia | $35,850 |
| Alabama | $35,800 |
| Iowa | $35,720 |
| Kansas | $35,680 |
| Oklahoma | $34,850 |
| Texas | $34,850 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 |
| Arkansas | $34,570 |
| Kentucky | $34,140 |
| West Virginia | $32,350 |
| Louisiana | $30,480 |
| Mississippi | $30,360 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $49,400 |
| San Jose, CA | $49,210 |
| Kahului, HI | $49,200 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $47,270 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $47,150 |
| Sacramento, CA | $46,990 |
| Salinas, CA | $46,990 |
| San Diego, CA | $46,720 |
| Vallejo, CA | $46,590 |
| New York, NY | $46,160 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $46,070 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $45,910 |
| Boston, MA | $45,790 |
| Napa, CA | $45,710 |
| Portland, OR | $45,690 |
In other countries
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker belongs to the international group "Veterinary technicians and assistants".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Massage Therapist$58,450
- Dental Assistant$48,070
- Medical Assistant$45,690
- Medical Equipment Preparer$47,700
- Medical Transcriptionist$40,410
- Pharmacy Aide$37,680
- Phlebotomist$45,230
- Healthcare Support Worker$48,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $18.34 ($38,150 a year).
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make a month?
About $3,179 a month before tax, based on a median of $38,150 a year.
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,120 or less a year ($14.48 an hour); the top 10% make $49,150 or more.
Which state pays veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretakers the most?
Rhode Island, with a median of $49,770 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($49,080) and Massachusetts ($46,670).
Which city pays veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretakers the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $49,400 a year.
How many veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretakers are there in the United States?
About 126,580 people work as veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretakers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.