How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make?
The median veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker in the United States earns $38,150 per year, about $18.34 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-9096.
Veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker salary range
Pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $30,120 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $49,150. The average (mean) wage of $40,340 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,120 | $14.48 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,660 | $17.15 | |
| Median (50th) | $38,150 | $18.34 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $45,710 | $21.98 | |
| 90th percentile | $49,150 | $23.63 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (SOC 31-9096), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn the most in Rhode Island at $49,770 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $30,360. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $49,770 | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $49,080 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | 2,130 |
| California | $46,260 | 16,080 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | 3,270 |
| Maine | $45,510 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $44,770 | 2,220 |
| New York | $44,750 | 5,790 |
| Oregon | $44,370 | 3,170 |
| Connecticut | $44,250 | 1,390 |
| Washington | $44,150 | 4,380 |
| Hawaii | $44,070 | 570 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | 2,910 |
| Delaware | $38,610 | N/A |
| Montana | $38,340 | 550 |
| Arizona | $38,250 | 3,340 |
| Michigan | $37,960 | 4,420 |
| Wyoming | $37,880 | 150 |
| Florida | $37,830 | 6,790 |
| Utah | $37,560 | 580 |
| Idaho | $37,530 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $37,500 | 520 |
| Illinois | $37,480 | 3,270 |
| Virginia | $37,450 | 4,810 |
| Vermont | $37,290 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $37,160 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,140 | 3,760 |
| North Carolina | $37,070 | 6,910 |
| South Carolina | $36,980 | 1,720 |
| Nevada | $36,920 | 1,380 |
| New Hampshire | $36,910 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $36,850 | 2,200 |
| Missouri | $36,660 | 2,010 |
| Alaska | $36,490 | 130 |
| Indiana | $36,420 | 2,810 |
| Ohio | $36,340 | 4,640 |
| Tennessee | $36,320 | 3,530 |
| Nebraska | $36,100 | 900 |
| Georgia | $35,850 | 4,570 |
| Alabama | $35,800 | 1,240 |
| Iowa | $35,720 | 1,380 |
| Kansas | $35,680 | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $34,850 | 1,740 |
| Texas | $34,850 | 8,440 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $34,570 | 1,460 |
| Kentucky | $34,140 | 1,840 |
| West Virginia | $32,350 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $30,480 | 1,230 |
| Mississippi | $30,360 | 560 |
State median wages for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (SOC 31-9096), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
The BLS projects employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 132,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 144,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 23,200 openings a year for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker
The typical entry-level education for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Rhode Island, $49,770) and the lowest (Mississippi, $30,360) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 126,580 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the United States. At $38,150 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker salary FAQ
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker is $18.34. The middle half of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn between $17.15 and $21.98 per hour.
What is the highest veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn more than $49,150 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make a year?
The median annual salary for a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker is $38,150. The average (mean) wage of $40,340 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker a well paid job?
At $38,150 a year, a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 126,580 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the United States.
Which state pays veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median salary for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers at $49,770 a year. District of Columbia ($49,080) and Massachusetts ($46,670) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker a good career?
Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 23,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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