Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
BLS OES May 2025 · SOC 31-9096As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
US Salary Overview
The national median wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the United States is $38,150 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Around 127,000 people are employed in this occupation nationally. UK data is not available for this occupation — the UK's SOC 2020 classification has no direct equivalent. Before interviews, many candidates work through interview preparation guides for this kind of role.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,120 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $35,660 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $38,150 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $45,710 | Experienced |
| 90th | $49,150 | Senior / highest decile |
Career Essentials
Role-specific interview prep for this occupation.
Check Price →Median Salary by State
| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $49,770 | $44,700 | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $49,080 | $55,760 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | $48,390 | 2,000 |
| California | $46,260 | $47,250 | 16,000 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | $46,060 | 3,000 |
| Maine | $45,510 | $46,580 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | $43,420 | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $44,770 | $45,950 | 2,000 |
| New York | $44,750 | $43,880 | 6,000 |
| Oregon | $44,370 | $43,630 | 3,000 |
| Connecticut | $44,250 | $46,150 | 1,000 |
| Washington | $44,150 | $45,170 | 4,000 |
| Hawaii | $44,070 | $41,970 | 570 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | $41,540 | 3,000 |
| Delaware | $38,610 | $43,270 | — |
| Montana | $38,340 | $38,550 | 550 |
| Arizona | $38,250 | $40,630 | 3,000 |
| Michigan | $37,960 | $39,060 | 4,000 |
| Wyoming | $37,880 | $36,120 | 150 |
| Florida | $37,830 | $40,030 | 7,000 |
| Utah | $37,560 | $40,330 | 580 |
| Idaho | $37,530 | $36,520 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $37,500 | $37,990 | 520 |
| Illinois | $37,480 | $39,410 | 3,000 |
| Virginia | $37,450 | $39,630 | 5,000 |
| Vermont | $37,290 | $37,630 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $37,160 | $39,540 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,140 | $38,720 | 4,000 |
| North Carolina | $37,070 | $37,540 | 7,000 |
| South Carolina | $36,980 | $37,000 | 2,000 |
| Nevada | $36,920 | $39,200 | 1,000 |
| New Hampshire | $36,910 | $37,800 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $36,850 | $37,400 | 2,000 |
| Missouri | $36,660 | $37,810 | 2,000 |
| Alaska | $36,490 | $37,520 | 130 |
| Indiana | $36,420 | $36,310 | 3,000 |
| Ohio | $36,340 | $37,200 | 5,000 |
| Tennessee | $36,320 | $36,330 | 4,000 |
| Nebraska | $36,100 | $35,980 | 900 |
| Georgia | $35,850 | $36,380 | 5,000 |
| Alabama | $35,800 | $34,780 | 1,000 |
| Iowa | $35,720 | $37,050 | 1,000 |
| Kansas | $35,680 | $36,490 | 2,000 |
| Oklahoma | $34,850 | $34,200 | 2,000 |
| Texas | $34,850 | $35,730 | 8,000 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 | $33,240 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $34,570 | $33,520 | 1,000 |
| Kentucky | $34,140 | $33,710 | 2,000 |
| West Virginia | $32,350 | $32,260 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $30,480 | $32,670 | 1,000 |
| Mississippi | $30,360 | $32,570 | 560 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,310 | $25,870 | 430 |
Recommended Gear & Prep
Negotiating the offer? A salary negotiation guide helps you anchor to the percentiles above.
Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · Page built 2026-07-18