Average Salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
SOC 31-9096 · Healthcare Support Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the United States is $37,320 ($17.94/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $29,160 at the 10th percentile to $48,150 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 114,190 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 56.9% since 2014.
Median Annual
$37,320
Mean Annual
$38,990
10th Pct
$29,160
75th Pct
$44,550
Employment
114,190
Salary Distribution
$29k
10th
$34k
25th
$37k
Median
$45k
75th
$48k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | $57,320 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $48,010 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $47,460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $47,040 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46,950 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,920 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,280 |
| Salinas, CA | $45,740 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $45,560 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45,480 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,370 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,360 |
| Napa, CA | $45,280 |
| Bend, OR | $45,100 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $48,050 |
| Massachusetts | $45,480 |
| California | $45,470 |
| Maine | $44,080 |
| Minnesota | $43,670 |
| Washington | $43,590 |
| District of Columbia | $43,580 |
| Maryland | $43,520 |
| New York | $43,150 |
| New Jersey | $42,910 |
| Oregon | $42,830 |
| Connecticut | $39,540 |
| Colorado | $39,480 |
| Arizona | $38,240 |
| Alaska | $37,530 |
| Illinois | $37,310 |
| Florida | $37,200 |
| Montana | $37,060 |
| North Carolina | $36,680 |
| Michigan | $36,550 |
| Virginia | $36,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,480 |
| Tennessee | $36,440 |
| Wyoming | $36,430 |
| North Dakota | $36,370 |
| Nevada | $36,160 |
| Vermont | $36,120 |
| Delaware | $36,060 |
| Idaho | $35,820 |
| Utah | $35,730 |
| South Carolina | $35,680 |
| New Mexico | $35,600 |
| Hawaii | $35,420 |
| Indiana | $35,270 |
| New Hampshire | $35,230 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 |
| Missouri | $35,040 |
| Wisconsin | $34,990 |
| Georgia | $34,980 |
| Ohio | $34,820 |
| South Dakota | $32,810 |
| Kansas | $32,670 |
| West Virginia | $32,630 |
| Kentucky | $32,590 |
| Iowa | $31,200 |
| Arkansas | $30,550 |
| Texas | $30,430 |
| Mississippi | $29,730 |
| Oklahoma | $29,730 |
| Alabama | $29,660 |
| Louisiana | $29,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,730 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $48,550 |
| Hospitals | $48,550 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $48,380 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $48,380 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $48,350 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,350 |
| Temporary Help Services | $47,810 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $47,810 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $47,810 |
| Employment Services | $47,810 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $47,780 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $47,700 |
| Educational Services | $47,670 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $47,490 |
| Manufacturing | $47,420 |
| Educational Services | $47,080 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $47,080 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,680 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,440 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $42,960 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $42,420 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $42,420 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $42,160 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $42,160 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $41,490 |
| Retail Trade | $41,490 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $41,490 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $37,230 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,110 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,110 |
| Veterinary Services | $37,070 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,070 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $36,970 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $36,940 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $36,760 |
| Other Personal Services | $36,710 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $36,710 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $36,500 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,320 |
| 2023 | $36,440 |
| 2022 | $34,740 |
| 2021 | $29,780 |
| 2020 | $29,930 |
| 2019 | $28,590 |
| 2018 | $27,540 |
| 2017 | $26,140 |
| 2016 | $25,250 |
| 2015 | $24,360 |
| 2014 | $23,790 |