Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is $38,150, or $18.34 per hour. About 126,580 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $49,770 in Rhode Island to $30,360 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $49,770 | $23.93 | 380 | 0.93 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $49,080 | $23.60 | 240 | 0.41 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $46,670 | $22.44 | 2,130 | 0.72 |
| 4 | California | $46,260 | $22.24 | 16,080 | 1.08 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $46,160 | $22.19 | 3,270 | 0.94 |
| 6 | Maine | $45,510 | $21.88 | 690 | 1.32 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $45,280 | $21.77 | 1,450 | 0.60 |
| 8 | Maryland | $44,770 | $21.52 | 2,220 | 0.99 |
| 9 | New York | $44,750 | $21.52 | 5,790 | 0.73 |
| 10 | Oregon | $44,370 | $21.33 | 3,170 | 1.98 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $44,250 | $21.28 | 1,390 | 1.01 |
| 12 | Washington | $44,150 | $21.23 | 4,380 | 1.51 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $44,070 | $21.19 | 570 | 1.12 |
| 14 | Colorado | $38,900 | $18.70 | 2,910 | 1.25 |
| 15 | Delaware | $38,610 | $18.56 | — | — |
| 16 | Montana | $38,340 | $18.43 | 550 | 1.32 |
| 17 | Arizona | $38,250 | $18.39 | 3,340 | 1.27 |
| 18 | Michigan | $37,960 | $18.25 | 4,420 | 1.23 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $37,880 | $18.21 | 150 | 0.67 |
| 20 | Florida | $37,830 | $18.19 | 6,790 | 0.84 |
| 21 | Utah | $37,560 | $18.06 | 580 | 0.41 |
| 22 | Idaho | $37,530 | $18.04 | 680 | 0.97 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $37,500 | $18.03 | 520 | 0.73 |
| 24 | Illinois | $37,480 | $18.02 | 3,270 | 0.66 |
| 25 | Virginia | $37,450 | $18.01 | 4,810 | 1.44 |
| 26 | Vermont | $37,290 | $17.93 | 370 | 1.51 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $37,160 | $17.87 | 270 | 0.77 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $37,140 | $17.86 | 3,760 | 0.76 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $37,070 | $17.82 | 6,910 | 1.72 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $36,980 | $17.78 | 1,720 | 0.92 |
| 31 | Nevada | $36,920 | $17.75 | 1,380 | 1.09 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $36,910 | $17.74 | 770 | 1.39 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $36,850 | $17.71 | 2,200 | 0.92 |
| 34 | Missouri | $36,660 | $17.62 | 2,010 | 0.84 |
| 35 | Alaska | $36,490 | $17.54 | 130 | 0.49 |
| 36 | Indiana | $36,420 | $17.51 | 2,810 | 1.08 |
| 37 | Ohio | $36,340 | $17.47 | 4,640 | 1.03 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $36,320 | $17.46 | 3,530 | 1.32 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $36,100 | $17.36 | 900 | 1.08 |
| 40 | Georgia | $35,850 | $17.24 | 4,570 | 1.15 |
| 41 | Alabama | $35,800 | $17.21 | 1,240 | 0.72 |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,720 | $17.18 | 1,380 | 1.09 |
| 43 | Kansas | $35,680 | $17.16 | 1,570 | 1.34 |
| 44 | Texas | $34,850 | $16.75 | 8,440 | 0.74 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $34,850 | $16.76 | 1,740 | 1.25 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $34,700 | $16.68 | 250 | 0.67 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $34,570 | $16.62 | 1,460 | 1.38 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $34,140 | $16.41 | 1,840 | 1.13 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $32,350 | $15.55 | 730 | 1.28 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $30,480 | $14.65 | 1,230 | 0.78 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,360 | $14.60 | 560 | 0.59 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make?
The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the United States is $38,150, or $18.34 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $30,120, and the top 10% earn $49,150.
How many veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are employed in the U.S.?
About 126,580 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers nationwide.
Which state pays veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the most?
Rhode Island pays the most at a median of $49,770, followed by District of Columbia ($49,080) and Massachusetts ($46,670).
Which state pays veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $30,360.
Where are veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Oregon at 1.98×.