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The national median salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is $38,147 per year ($18.34/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $35,672 and $45,718 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $49,150 per year. There are approximately 126,580 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+8.7%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
22K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
118K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
5% from new growth95% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
NAICS 541900
113K
$37,940
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
NAICS 611300
5K
$47,860
Other Miscellaneous Retailers
NAICS 459900
3K
$39,830
Other Personal Services
NAICS 812900
1K
$37,790
Scientific Research and Development Services
NAICS 541700
1K
$49,230
Wage range across top 5 industries: $37,790 to $49,230 (30% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$14.48
$30,118
P25
$17.15
$35,672
P50MEDIAN
$18.34
$38,147
P75
$21.98
$45,718
P90
$23.63
$49,150
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · health sector
Hot
Openings Rate
5.4%
Quits Rate
1.9%
Health Care & Social Assistance openings rebounded to 1.36M (+87K) in March with rate at 5.4%. Hires rose to 700K (+75K). The sector remains structurally tight; compensation pressure persists for clinical roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary?
The national median salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is $38,147 per year ($18.34/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $35,672 and $45,718 annually.
How much do top-earning veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is $49,150 per year ($23.63/hr). The 75th percentile is $45,718 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Entry-level Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (10th percentile) earn approximately $30,118 per year ($14.48/hr). The 25th percentile is $35,672 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
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