Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (SOC 31-9096) earn a median $38,150 a year ($18.34 an hour) in the United States, with 126,580 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Rhode Island.
What veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers do
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers feed, water and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. They clean and disinfect cages and work areas and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment, and clean and maintain kennels, holding areas and examination or operating rooms to control the spread of disease. They hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures, assist veterinarians in examining animals, and monitor animals recovering from surgery, notifying the veterinarian of unusual changes or symptoms. They fill medication prescriptions, give medication, immunizations or blood plasma as prescribed, and may perform routine laboratory or diagnostic tests such as taking or developing x-rays. The SOC adds that they may prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of technologists, technicians, veterinarians or scientists. The SOC excludes animal caretakers, who have their own code. About 78 percent of respondents report a high school diploma or equivalent. Related job titles include certified veterinary assistant, animal care specialist, emergency veterinary assistant and avian keeper.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (78 percent).
Also called: Animal Care Provider, Animal Care Service Worker, Animal Care Specialist, Animal Caregiver, Animal Caretaker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.48 | $17.15 | $18.34 | $21.98 | $23.63 | $19.39 | 126,580 |
| Annual | $30,120 | $35,660 | $38,150 | $45,710 | $49,150 | $40,340 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $17.07 | $18.00 | $23.93 | $24.01 | $24.10 | $21.49 | 380 | 0.76 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $35,510 | $37,440 | $49,770 | $49,930 | $50,130 | $44,700 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $22.39 | $22.58 | $23.60 | $29.18 | $35.02 | $26.81 | 240 | 0.34 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $46,570 | $46,960 | $49,080 | $60,700 | $72,840 | $55,760 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $17.05 | $18.00 | $22.44 | $28.51 | $30.35 | $23.27 | 2,130 | 0.59 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $35,460 | $37,440 | $46,670 | $59,290 | $63,130 | $48,390 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.17 | $19.12 | $22.24 | $23.70 | $27.86 | $22.72 | 16,080 | 0.88 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $37,800 | $39,760 | $46,260 | $49,290 | $57,940 | $47,250 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $17.66 | $19.09 | $22.19 | $23.17 | $27.73 | $22.14 | 3,270 | 0.76 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $36,720 | $39,700 | $46,160 | $48,190 | $57,670 | $46,060 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.17 | $19.12 | $22.24 | $23.70 | $27.86 | $22.72 | 16,080 | 0.88 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $37,800 | $39,760 | $46,260 | $49,290 | $57,940 | $47,250 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.57 | $14.10 | $16.75 | $20.81 | $22.55 | $17.18 | 8,440 | 0.60 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $24,070 | $29,340 | $34,850 | $43,270 | $46,890 | $35,730 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $13.86 | $16.95 | $17.82 | $18.79 | $22.34 | $18.05 | 6,910 | 1.40 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $28,830 | $35,250 | $37,070 | $39,080 | $46,470 | $37,540 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $14.95 | $17.38 | $18.19 | $21.60 | $22.73 | $19.24 | 6,790 | 0.68 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $31,090 | $36,160 | $37,830 | $44,930 | $47,270 | $40,030 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.52 | $18.56 | $21.52 | $22.39 | $25.70 | $21.09 | 5,790 | 0.60 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $36,450 | $38,610 | $44,750 | $46,560 | $53,460 | $43,880 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $21.07 | $22.32 | $23.75 | $27.80 | $28.47 | $25.06 | 2,150 | 0.91 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $43,820 | $46,430 | $49,400 | $57,820 | $59,210 | $52,120 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $21.55 | $22.85 | $23.66 | $27.60 | $28.05 | $25.15 | 620 | 0.55 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $44,820 | $47,530 | $49,210 | $57,400 | $58,340 | $52,310 | ||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $18.77 | $19.23 | $23.65 | $23.76 | $24.07 | $22.10 | 60 | 0.86 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $39,050 | $40,000 | $49,200 | $49,420 | $50,070 | $45,960 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $18.95 | $20.24 | $22.72 | $23.08 | $28.06 | $22.83 | 350 | 1.72 | 2.11 |
| Annual | $39,420 | $42,110 | $47,270 | $48,010 | $58,370 | $47,490 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $18.80 | $21.55 | $22.67 | $23.50 | $28.13 | $23.20 | 200 | 2.01 | 2.47 |
| Annual | $39,100 | $44,810 | $47,150 | $48,880 | $58,510 | $48,250 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.85 | $19.47 | $22.19 | $23.18 | $27.72 | $22.55 | 5,560 | 0.59 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $39,200 | $40,490 | $46,160 | $48,220 | $57,650 | $46,890 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.26 | $18.99 | $22.15 | $22.79 | $27.77 | $22.37 | 4,830 | 0.77 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $37,990 | $39,510 | $46,070 | $47,390 | $57,760 | $46,530 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $14.05 | $16.92 | $17.36 | $20.22 | $21.81 | $17.99 | 2,880 | 1.00 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $29,220 | $35,190 | $36,110 | $42,050 | $45,360 | $37,410 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $17.66 | $18.62 | $21.79 | $23.60 | $28.93 | $22.15 | 2,740 | 0.87 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $36,740 | $38,730 | $45,320 | $49,080 | $60,170 | $46,060 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $20.48 | $21.01 | $21.94 | $23.11 | $27.91 | $22.64 | 2,400 | 1.15 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $43,700 | $45,640 | $48,080 | $58,060 | $47,090 | ||||
Top industries employing veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employ 89.4% of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers nationally (113,220 jobs) at a median $37,940 a year ($18.24 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (3.8%) and Other Miscellaneous Retailers (2.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 113,220 | 89.4% | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 4,840 | 3.8% | $47,860 | $23.01 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers NAICS 459900 | 2,670 | 2.1% | $39,830 | $19.15 |
| Other Personal Services NAICS 812900 | 1,400 | 1.1% | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 1,260 | 1.0% | $49,230 | $23.67 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (126,580). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,780 for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in May 2021 and $38,150 in May 2025, with employment of 98,970 and 126,580.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,780 | $14.32 | 98,970 |
| May 2022 | $34,740 | $16.70 | 111,880 |
| May 2023 | $36,440 | $17.52 | 115,770 |
| May 2024 | $37,320 | $17.94 | 114,190 |
| May 2025 | $38,150 | $18.34 | 126,580 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island profile | $23.93 | $49,770 | $35,510 | $50,130 | 380 | 0.76 | 0.93 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $23.60 | $49,080 | $46,570 | $72,840 | 240 | 0.34 | 0.41 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $22.44 | $46,670 | $35,460 | $63,130 | 2,130 | 0.59 | 0.72 |
| 4 | California profile | $22.24 | $46,260 | $37,800 | $57,940 | 16,080 | 0.88 | 1.08 |
| 5 | New Jersey profile | $22.19 | $46,160 | $36,720 | $57,670 | 3,270 | 0.76 | 0.94 |
| 6 | Maine profile | $21.88 | $45,510 | $37,380 | $59,790 | 690 | 1.07 | 1.32 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $21.77 | $45,280 | $36,410 | $49,060 | 1,450 | 0.49 | 0.60 |
| 8 | Maryland profile | $21.52 | $44,770 | $37,150 | $60,710 | 2,220 | 0.81 | 0.99 |
| 9 | New York profile | $21.52 | $44,750 | $36,450 | $53,460 | 5,790 | 0.60 | 0.73 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $21.33 | $44,370 | $36,480 | $49,470 | 3,170 | 1.61 | 1.98 |
| 11 | Connecticut profile | $21.28 | $44,250 | $35,920 | $59,950 | 1,390 | 0.82 | 1.01 |
| 12 | Washington profile | $21.23 | $44,150 | $38,470 | $55,050 | 4,380 | 1.23 | 1.51 |
| 13 | Hawaii profile | $21.19 | $44,070 | $35,200 | $49,400 | 570 | 0.91 | 1.12 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $18.70 | $38,900 | $35,710 | $47,450 | 2,910 | 1.01 | 1.25 |
| 15 | Delaware profile | $18.56 | $38,610 | $34,680 | $57,930 | ** | ** | ** |
| 16 | Montana profile | $18.43 | $38,340 | $29,430 | $45,220 | 550 | 1.07 | 1.32 |
| 17 | Arizona profile | $18.39 | $38,250 | $35,530 | $47,460 | 3,340 | 1.03 | 1.27 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $18.25 | $37,960 | $30,410 | $46,730 | 4,420 | 1.00 | 1.23 |
| 19 | Wyoming profile | $18.21 | $37,880 | $30,610 | $39,080 | 150 | 0.55 | 0.67 |
| 20 | Florida profile | $18.19 | $37,830 | $31,090 | $47,270 | 6,790 | 0.68 | 0.84 |
| 21 | Utah profile | $18.06 | $37,560 | $31,890 | $49,100 | 580 | 0.33 | 0.41 |
| 22 | Idaho profile | $18.04 | $37,530 | $24,230 | $44,730 | 680 | 0.79 | 0.97 |
| 23 | New Mexico profile | $18.03 | $37,500 | $29,870 | $48,310 | 520 | 0.60 | 0.73 |
| 24 | Illinois profile | $18.02 | $37,480 | $31,550 | $47,000 | 3,270 | 0.54 | 0.66 |
| 25 | Virginia profile | $18.01 | $37,450 | $30,430 | $48,580 | 4,810 | 1.17 | 1.44 |
| 26 | Vermont profile | $17.93 | $37,290 | $30,690 | $45,880 | 370 | 1.23 | 1.51 |
| 27 | North Dakota profile | $17.87 | $37,160 | $33,800 | $46,830 | 270 | 0.63 | 0.77 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.86 | $37,140 | $30,010 | $47,200 | 3,760 | 0.62 | 0.76 |
| 29 | North Carolina profile | $17.82 | $37,070 | $28,830 | $46,470 | 6,910 | 1.40 | 1.72 |
| 30 | South Carolina profile | $17.78 | $36,980 | $27,390 | $48,630 | 1,720 | 0.75 | 0.92 |
| 31 | Nevada profile | $17.75 | $36,920 | $35,920 | $47,910 | 1,380 | 0.89 | 1.09 |
| 32 | New Hampshire profile | $17.74 | $36,910 | $29,160 | $45,690 | 770 | 1.13 | 1.39 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $17.71 | $36,850 | $30,400 | $45,630 | 2,200 | 0.75 | 0.92 |
| 34 | Missouri profile | $17.62 | $36,660 | $30,280 | $45,940 | 2,010 | 0.68 | 0.84 |
| 35 | Alaska profile | $17.54 | $36,490 | $27,690 | $47,010 | 130 | 0.40 | 0.49 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $17.51 | $36,420 | $29,580 | $44,780 | 2,810 | 0.88 | 1.08 |
| 37 | Ohio profile | $17.47 | $36,340 | $29,330 | $47,070 | 4,640 | 0.84 | 1.03 |
| 38 | Tennessee profile | $17.46 | $36,320 | $30,230 | $43,700 | 3,530 | 1.08 | 1.32 |
| 39 | Nebraska profile | $17.36 | $36,100 | $29,930 | $42,050 | 900 | 0.88 | 1.08 |
| 40 | Georgia profile | $17.24 | $35,850 | $29,210 | $44,810 | 4,570 | 0.94 | 1.15 |
| 41 | Alabama profile | $17.21 | $35,800 | $27,970 | $43,360 | 1,240 | 0.59 | 0.72 |
| 42 | Iowa profile | $17.18 | $35,720 | $29,440 | $47,220 | 1,380 | 0.89 | 1.09 |
| 43 | Kansas profile | $17.16 | $35,680 | $28,720 | $47,930 | 1,570 | 1.09 | 1.34 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $16.76 | $34,850 | $23,170 | $46,810 | 1,740 | 1.02 | 1.25 |
| 45 | Texas profile | $16.75 | $34,850 | $24,070 | $46,890 | 8,440 | 0.60 | 0.74 |
| 46 | South Dakota profile | $16.68 | $34,700 | $28,390 | $36,700 | 250 | 0.54 | 0.67 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $16.62 | $34,570 | $27,860 | $42,180 | 1,460 | 1.12 | 1.38 |
| 48 | Kentucky profile | $16.41 | $34,140 | $26,520 | $45,430 | 1,840 | 0.92 | 1.13 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $15.55 | $32,350 | $25,830 | $38,040 | 730 | 1.04 | 1.28 |
| 50 | Louisiana profile | $14.65 | $30,480 | $28,400 | $37,510 | 1,230 | 0.64 | 0.78 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $14.60 | $30,360 | $26,060 | $45,440 | 560 | 0.48 | 0.59 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (31-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 31-9096 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 31-9096, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 31-9096.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.