How Much Do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Make?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make a median annual income of $29,780 or $14 per hour. The lowest 10% of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earned less than $22,920 and the highest 10% earned more than $38,860.

Do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Get Paid Well?

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn less than the average worker in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is $29,780 per year. This is 29% less than the average salary for all occupations, which is $45,760

How Much Do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Make Starting Out?

The BLS does not provide average compensation data for entry-level positions for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers just starting out, but the bottom 25% of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn $28,200 each year according to the BLS.

How Many Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Are There In The United States?

In 2021, there were 107,200 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the United States. The BLS predicts the number of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers will increase by 14 percent, approximately 15,300 jobs, by 2030.

Where Can Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Earn The Most?

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers' salaries depend on location and work setting. According to the BLS, veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn the most in the following industries: other professional, scientific, and technical services, colleges, universities, and professional schools and scientific research and development services. The metropolitan areas with the highest pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are:

1. Ames, IA - $44,000
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $43,680
3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - $41,920

How Much Do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Earn In Each State?

The table below compares veterinary assistant salaries across states and U.S. territories (Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wages May 2020). You can also find data for the number of veterinary assistants in each state as well as the number of veterinary assistants per 1,000 jobs—a figure that can help you determine the job's popularity in a given location. Not all locations have employment statistics. 

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