Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary by state
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is a professional role in the Healthcare Support job family, focused on Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakerss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Active ListeningCritical ThinkingWritingService OrientationReading ComprehensionMonitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay by experience level
Entry level$31,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$37,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$39,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$47,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$51,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+8.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
22,200
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
114,500 workers
$41,500
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
113,220 workers
$41,000
Educational Services
4,860 workers
$50,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
4,840 workers
$50,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
3,110 workers
$49,000
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers
2,670 workers
$43,000
Other Miscellaneous Retailers
2,670 workers
$43,000
Educational Services, Privately Owned
1,660 workers
$53,000
Personal and Laundry Services
1,400 workers
$40,500
Other Personal Services
1,400 workers
$40,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pays 17% below the average across 19 roles in the Healthcare Support job family (family average $50,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make?
The average base salary for a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the United States is $41,500 per year, or about $19.95 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $37,000 and $47,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Support roles?
The Healthcare Support job family averages $50,000 across 19 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
