Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn a median of $38,150 a year ($18.34/hr) in the U.S. – from $23,310 in Puerto Rico to $49,770 in Rhode Island. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$18.34/hr · $38,150 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$30,120$14.48/hr
75% earn more$35,660$17.15/hr
half earn more, half less$38,150$18.34/hr
25% earn more$45,710$21.98/hr
top 10% earn more$49,150$23.63/hr
pulled up by top earners$40,340$19.39/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
380 jobs · $23.93/hr$49,770
240 jobs · $23.60/hr$49,080
2,130 jobs · $22.44/hr$46,670
16,080 jobs · $22.24/hr$46,260
3,270 jobs · $22.19/hr$46,160
690 jobs · $21.88/hr$45,510
1,450 jobs · $21.77/hr$45,280
2,220 jobs · $21.52/hr$44,770
5,790 jobs · $21.52/hr$44,750
3,170 jobs · $21.33/hr$44,370
1,390 jobs · $21.28/hr$44,250
4,380 jobs · $21.23/hr$44,150
570 jobs · $21.19/hr$44,070
2,910 jobs · $18.70/hr$38,900
jobs n/a · $18.56/hr$38,610
550 jobs · $18.43/hr$38,340
3,340 jobs · $18.39/hr$38,250
4,420 jobs · $18.25/hr$37,960
150 jobs · $18.21/hr$37,880
6,790 jobs · $18.19/hr$37,830
580 jobs · $18.06/hr$37,560
680 jobs · $18.04/hr$37,530
520 jobs · $18.03/hr$37,500
3,270 jobs · $18.02/hr$37,480
4,810 jobs · $18.01/hr$37,450
370 jobs · $17.93/hr$37,290
270 jobs · $17.87/hr$37,160
3,760 jobs · $17.86/hr$37,140
6,910 jobs · $17.82/hr$37,070
1,720 jobs · $17.78/hr$36,980
1,380 jobs · $17.75/hr$36,920
770 jobs · $17.74/hr$36,910
2,200 jobs · $17.71/hr$36,850
2,010 jobs · $17.62/hr$36,660
130 jobs · $17.54/hr$36,490
2,810 jobs · $17.51/hr$36,420
4,640 jobs · $17.47/hr$36,340
3,530 jobs · $17.46/hr$36,320
900 jobs · $17.36/hr$36,100
4,570 jobs · $17.24/hr$35,850
1,240 jobs · $17.21/hr$35,800
1,380 jobs · $17.18/hr$35,720
1,570 jobs · $17.16/hr$35,680
1,740 jobs · $16.76/hr$34,850
8,440 jobs · $16.75/hr$34,850
250 jobs · $16.68/hr$34,700
1,460 jobs · $16.62/hr$34,570
1,840 jobs · $16.41/hr$34,140
730 jobs · $15.55/hr$32,350
1,230 jobs · $14.65/hr$30,480
560 jobs · $14.60/hr$30,360
430 jobs · $11.21/hr$23,310
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 31-9096. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make?
The median wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the U.S. was $18.34 an hour or $38,150 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $35,660 and $45,710 a year.
Which state pays veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers: $49,770 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $23,310. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are there?
BLS estimates 126,580 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.