SOC 31-9096 · May 2025
Veterinary Assistant Salary
Veterinary Assistants in the US earn a median of $38,150 a year ($19.39 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Veterinary Assistant pay climbed from $29,690 in 2019 to $40,340 in 2025, a +35.9% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$38,150
Half of all Veterinary Assistants in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+35.9% since 2019 · +3.5% YoY
Hourly
$19.39
Job growth 2025-35
+9.1%
US workers
126,580
BLS series
Annual median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Veterinary Assistants is $30,120 – $49,150.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$30,120
25th
$35,660
Median
$38,150
75th
$45,710
90th
$49,150
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Veterinary Assistants. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $30,120 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $35,660 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $38,150 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $45,710 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $49,150 |
Geography
Veterinary Assistant pay by state
Veterinary Assistants earn the most in Rhode Island ($49,770, +30% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($30,360). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$38,150
Highest-paying states for veterinary assistants
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $49,770 | +30% | 380 |
| D.C. | $49,080 | +29% | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | +22% | 2,130 |
| California | $46,260 | +21% | 16,080 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | +21% | 3,270 |
| Maine | $45,510 | +19% | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | +19% | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $44,770 | +17% | 2,220 |
| New York | $44,750 | +17% | 5,790 |
| Oregon | $44,370 | +16% | 3,170 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $49,770 | 380 |
| D.C. | $49,080 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | 2,130 |
| California | $46,260 | 16,080 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | 3,270 |
| Maine | $45,510 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $44,770 | 2,220 |
| New York | $44,750 | 5,790 |
| Oregon | $44,370 | 3,170 |
| Connecticut | $44,250 | 1,390 |
| Washington | $44,150 | 4,380 |
| Hawaii | $44,070 | 570 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | 2,910 |
| Delaware | $38,610 | – |
| Montana | $38,340 | 550 |
| Arizona | $38,250 | 3,340 |
| Michigan | $37,960 | 4,420 |
| Wyoming | $37,880 | 150 |
| Florida | $37,830 | 6,790 |
| Utah | $37,560 | 580 |
| Idaho | $37,530 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $37,500 | 520 |
| Illinois | $37,480 | 3,270 |
| Virginia | $37,450 | 4,810 |
| Vermont | $37,290 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $37,160 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,140 | 3,760 |
| North Carolina | $37,070 | 6,910 |
| South Carolina | $36,980 | 1,720 |
| Nevada | $36,920 | 1,380 |
| New Hampshire | $36,910 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $36,850 | 2,200 |
| Missouri | $36,660 | 2,010 |
| Alaska | $36,490 | 130 |
| Indiana | $36,420 | 2,810 |
| Ohio | $36,340 | 4,640 |
| Tennessee | $36,320 | 3,530 |
| Nebraska | $36,100 | 900 |
| Georgia | $35,850 | 4,570 |
| Alabama | $35,800 | 1,240 |
| Iowa | $35,720 | 1,380 |
| Kansas | $35,680 | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $34,850 | 1,740 |
| Texas | $34,850 | 8,440 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $34,570 | 1,460 |
| Kentucky | $34,140 | 1,840 |
| West Virginia | $32,350 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $30,480 | 1,230 |
| Mississippi | $30,360 | 560 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Veterinary Assistants
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (BLS SOC 31-9096) feed, water, and examine animals; clean and sanitize equipment and exam rooms; and assist veterinarians with examinations and procedures. The role typically requires high school education plus on-the-job training; some employers prefer assistants who hold a vocational certificate. Specialty hospitals and research facilities tend to pay above the OEWS median; small-animal general practices fall closer to it.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $30,120 – $49,150. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Rhode Island, D.C. and Massachusetts. Pay in Rhode Island runs 1.6 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 23,200 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 9.1% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Veterinary Assistant salary in the US?
How much does a Veterinary Assistant make an hour?
How much do Veterinary Assistants make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Veterinary Assistants the most?
Is the average Veterinary Assistant salary higher than the median?
Is Veterinary Assistant a growing career?
Open positions
Open Veterinary Assistant roles hiring now
Browse current Veterinary Assistant listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 31-9096. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.