Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary
Healthcare Support Occupations · 127K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$38,150
Median hourly
$18
Average annual
$40,340
Typical range
$30,120–$49,150
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is $38,150 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $18 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment.
Most earn between $30,120 and $49,150 a year. There are roughly 127K people employed as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers.
- Hourly
- $18.34
- Daily
- $147
- Weekly
- $734
- Bi-weekly
- $1,467
- Monthly
- $3,179
- Annual
- $38,150
$38,150 a year is around the 50th percentile for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakerss. The median is $38,150.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Rhode Island$49,770
- 2District of Columbia$49,080
- 3Massachusetts$46,670
- 4California$46,260
- 5New Jersey$46,160
- 6Maine$45,510
- 7Minnesota$45,280
- 8Maryland$44,770
- 9New York$44,750
- 10Oregon$44,370
- 11Connecticut$44,250
- 12Washington$44,150
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$49,400
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$49,210
- 3Kahului-Wailuku, HI$49,200
- 4Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$47,270
- 5Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$47,150
- 6Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$46,990
- 7Salinas, CA$46,990
- 8San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$46,720
- 9Vallejo, CA$46,590
- 10New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$46,160
- 11Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$46,070
- 12Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$45,910
Related job titles
Employers advertise Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers roles under these titles.
- Animal Care Provider
- Avian Keeper
- Certified Veterinary Assistant
- Emergency Veterinary Assistant
- Inpatient Technician Assistant
- Kennel Vet Assistant (Kennel Veterinary Assistant)
- Laboratory Animal Caretaker
- Laboratory Animal Technician
- Research Animal Attendant
- Small Animal Caretaker
- Veterinarian Assistant (Vet Assistant)
- Veterinarian Helper (Vet Helper)
- Veterinary Attendant
- Veterinary Kennel Assistant (Vet Kennel Assistant)
- Veterinary Receptionist (Vet Receptionist)
Related occupations
What a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers does
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
- Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make?
- The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is $38,150 ($18 per hour). Pay ranges from about $30,120 at the 10th percentile to $49,150 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $40,340, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakerss the most?
- Rhode Island has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $49,770.
- Is Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 127K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers do?
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.; Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.; Fill medication prescriptions..