Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers · Virginia

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary in Virginia

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Virginia earn a median annual wage of $37,450 —1.8% below the national median of $38,150. That ranks VA #25 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$37,450
Median hourly
$18.01
Entry level (P10)
$30,430
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$48,580
90th percentile
Employment
4,810
1.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-1.8%
U.S. $38,150

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$30,430
$35,660
$37,450
$45,270
$30,430$37,450$48,580
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $37,450.

Employment is 1.44× as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Virginia is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Rhode Island$49,770$23.933800.93
2District of Columbia$49,080$23.602400.41
3Massachusetts$46,670$22.442,1300.72
4California$46,260$22.2416,0801.08
5New Jersey$46,160$22.193,2700.94
6Maine$45,510$21.886901.32
7Minnesota$45,280$21.771,4500.60
8Maryland$44,770$21.522,2200.99
9New York$44,750$21.525,7900.73
10Oregon$44,370$21.333,1701.98

Related occupations in Virginia

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Virginia.

OccupationVirginia medianU.S. median
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,300$35,800
Nursing Assistants$43,200$42,260
Medical Assistants$44,740$45,690
Dental Assistants$46,670$48,070
Phlebotomists$46,340$45,230
Physical Therapist Assistants$73,760$68,380

Frequently asked questions

How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in Virginia?

The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Virginia is $37,450, or $18.01 per hour. That is 1.8% below the national median of $38,150.

What is the entry-level veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary in Virginia?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $30,430 per year ($14.63/hour). The 25th percentile is $35,660.

How many people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Virginia?

About 4,810 people work in this occupation in Virginia, or 1.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Virginia a good state for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?

Virginia ranks #25 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.44x as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the most?

Rhode Island has the highest median wage at $49,770 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($49,080) and Massachusetts ($46,670).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes