Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary by City

BLS OEWS May 2025 • 477 metro areas

Top-paying metros for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
Northeast Maine $58,120 330
New Haven, CT $57,320 330
Rhode Island $48,050 360
Providence, RI-MA $48,010 410
Kahului, HI $47,460 50
San Francisco, CA $47,040 2,410

Browse Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salaries by state

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      All metros — Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salaries

      AK
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Anchorage, AK $39,020 90
      Alaska $37,530 150
      Alaska $35,820 30
      AL
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Auburn, AL $36,610 90
      Huntsville, AL $30,440 150
      Birmingham, AL $29,840 310
      Florence, AL $29,720 40
      Alabama $29,660 1,060
      Southeast Alabama $28,890 50
      AR
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Fayetteville, AR $33,760 320
      Fort Smith, AR-OK $30,930 90
      Arkansas $30,550 1,200
      Jonesboro, AR $29,710 50
      Little Rock, AR $29,640 300
      West Arkansas $29,190 100
      North Arkansas $28,900 130
      Hot Springs, AR $28,830 60
      South Arkansas $28,770 90
      AZ
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Phoenix, AZ $38,440 1,640
      Arizona $38,240 2,210
      Prescott Valley, AZ $36,630 60
      Arizona $35,840 180
      Tucson, AZ $35,820 310
      Lake Havasu City, AZ $35,310 40
      CA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      San Francisco, CA $47,040 2,410
      San Jose, CA $46,950 550
      Sacramento, CA $46,620 1,590
      Santa Rosa, CA $46,280 320
      Salinas, CA $45,740 140
      Santa Cruz, CA $45,560 170
      California $45,470 14,960
      North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California $45,470 120
      Vallejo, CA $45,360 140
      Napa, CA $45,280 50
      Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California $45,240 70
      San Diego, CA $44,830 1,640
      Oxnard, CA $44,750 430
      Los Angeles, CA $44,320 4,610
      Chico, CA $43,680 90
      San Luis Obispo, CA $43,350 170
      Santa Maria, CA $41,860 190
      North Coast Region of California $41,160 110
      Merced, CA $39,120 50
      Modesto, CA $38,410 200
      Riverside, CA $38,370 1,060
      Yuba City, CA $38,220 40
      Bakersfield, CA $37,880 170
      Visalia, CA $37,620 70
      Fresno, CA $37,590 220
      Redding, CA $37,350 70
      CO
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Denver, CO $43,910 1,460
      Boulder, CO $43,470 270
      Colorado $39,480 2,950
      Greeley, CO $38,060 140
      Fort Collins, CO $37,860 300
      Colorado Springs, CO $37,760 400
      Pueblo, CO $36,760 50
      Eastern and Southern Colorado $36,150 70
      Grand Junction, CO $36,120 80
      Southwest Colorado $35,980 120
      CT
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      New Haven, CT $57,320 330
      Connecticut $45,030 90
      Connecticut $39,540 1,270
      Bridgeport, CT $39,270 320
      Hartford, CT $38,550 390
      Waterbury, CT $37,970 100
      Norwich, CT $37,330 50
      DC
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV $43,430 2,490
      DE
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Sussex Delaware $36,570 70
      Delaware $36,060 180
      FL
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Crestview, FL $42,590 200
      Naples, FL $38,110 120
      Miami, FL $37,920 1,610
      North Port, FL $37,620 220
      Tampa, FL $37,480 1,120
      Florida $37,200 7,060
      Orlando, FL $37,100 840
      Cape Coral, FL $36,920 250
      Jacksonville, FL $36,680 640
      Deltona, FL $36,590 220
      Port St. Lucie, FL $36,490 150
      South Florida $36,490 70
      Punta Gorda, FL $36,080 60
      Palm Bay, FL $35,950 210
      Sebastian, FL $35,860 90
      Gainesville, FL $35,840 160
      Homosassa Springs, FL $35,750 50
      Lakeland, FL $35,740 180
      North Florida $35,440 100
      Tallahassee, FL $35,220 200
      Panama City, FL $34,490 70
      Ocala, FL $34,310 190
      GA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Atlanta, GA $35,740 1,990
      Georgia $34,980 3,280
      Brunswick, GA $34,660 50
      Gainesville, GA $34,420 60
      Augusta, GA-SC $33,930 180
      Macon, GA $32,810 30
      South Georgia $32,760 80
      Warner Robins, GA $32,710 70
      Savannah, GA $32,390 140
      Middle Georgia $30,550 70
      Athens, GA $30,460 200
      East Georgia $30,210 60
      Rome, GA $29,820 50
      Columbus, GA-AL $29,660 80
      HI
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Kahului, HI $47,460 50
      Hawaii / Kauai $37,820 60
      Hawaii $35,420 510
      Urban Honolulu, HI $35,250 400
      IA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Southwest Iowa $36,050 70
      Iowa City, IA $35,310 50
      Ames, IA $34,580 70
      Des Moines, IA $33,280 250
      Northwest Iowa $31,920 120
      Iowa $31,200 1,040
      Southeast Iowa $30,750 180
      Cedar Rapids, IA $30,700 90
      Davenport, IA-IL $30,140 110
      Waterloo, IA $29,840 60
      Northeast Iowa $29,690 70
      ID
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Lewiston, ID-WA $39,160 30
      Pocatello, ID $36,360 30
      Coeur d'Alene, ID $36,250 90
      Boise City, ID $36,160 400
      Idaho $35,820 790
      Twin Falls, ID $35,300 40
      Idaho Falls, ID $35,080 40
      Northwestern Idaho $34,790 100
      Southeast-Central Idaho $29,710 90
      IL
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Chicago, IL-IN $38,470 2,640
      Illinois $37,310 3,790
      Champaign, IL $36,850 160
      Northwest Illinois $36,380 120
      Rockford, IL $36,120 70
      Springfield, IL $35,810 80
      West Central Illinois $35,700 190
      Bloomington, IL $35,490 80
      South Illinois $35,440 100
      East Central Illinois $34,930 80
      Peoria, IL $34,820 110
      IN
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Indianapolis, IN $36,140 810
      Elkhart, IN $35,880 60
      Michigan City, IN $35,880 70
      Indiana $35,270 2,670
      South Bend, IN-MI $34,750 140
      Lafayette, IN $34,740 150
      Muncie, IN $34,670 40
      Bloomington, IN $34,570 70
      Fort Wayne, IN $34,440 160
      Evansville, IN $34,300 100
      Central Indiana $33,950 160
      Kokomo, IN $33,510 30
      Terre Haute, IN $33,490 40
      Northern Indiana $33,330 210
      Southern Indiana $32,460 170
      KS
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Lawrence, KS $36,530 50
      Kansas $32,670 1,490
      Manhattan, KS $32,670 140
      Topeka, KS $28,540 110
      Kansas $28,230 420
      Wichita, KS $28,110 290
      KY
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $35,410 330
      Kentucky $32,590 930
      Lexington, KY $31,620 220
      Bowling Green, KY $31,050 70
      Central Kentucky $29,970 190
      East Kentucky $29,840 40
      West Kentucky $29,380 70
      South Central Kentucky $29,000 80
      LA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      New Orleans, LA $35,520 250
      Shreveport, LA $29,980 120
      Baton Rouge, LA $29,930 200
      Louisiana $29,280 970
      Alexandria, LA $28,700 30
      Southwest Louisiana $28,430 50
      Houma, LA $27,910 40
      Central Louisiana $26,890 40
      MA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Barnstable Town, MA $46,920 80
      Massachusetts $45,480 1,470
      Boston, MA-NH $45,370 1,230
      Worcester, MA $44,860 200
      Massachusetts $37,650 30
      MD
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Maryland $43,520 1,690
      Baltimore, MD $40,350 820
      Hagerstown, MD-WV $36,600 80
      Maryland $31,410 60
      ME
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Northeast Maine $58,120 330
      Portland, ME $44,390 230
      Maine $44,080 790
      Bangor, ME $43,660 50
      Southwest Maine $38,660 130
      Lewiston, ME $38,000 40
      MI
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Detroit, MI $37,590 1,450
      Midland, MI $37,590 50
      Ann Arbor, MI $37,440 180
      Lansing, MI $36,920 210
      Grand Rapids, MI $36,560 510
      Michigan $36,550 4,040
      Monroe, MI $36,390 80
      Traverse City, MI $36,020 60
      Upper Peninsula of Michigan $36,000 110
      Northern Michigan $35,840 150
      Kalamazoo, MI $35,770 320
      Niles, MI $35,640 40
      Saginaw, MI $35,590 80
      Flint, MI $35,410 140
      Southern Michigan $35,280 160
      Jackson, MI $35,180 50
      Mid Michigan $35,130 180
      Bay City, MI $34,520 40
      Muskegon, MI $31,100 50
      Battle Creek, MI $30,720 50
      MN
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Minneapolis, MN-WI $43,940 960
      Minnesota $43,670 1,220
      Southeast Minnesota $38,300 40
      Duluth, MN-WI $38,100 40
      Northwest Minnesota $37,390 60
      MO
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Jefferson City, MO $35,920 50
      Kansas City, MO-KS $35,430 820
      St. Louis, MO-IL $35,430 1,020
      Columbia, MO $35,190 130
      Joplin, MO-KS $35,090 40
      Missouri $35,040 2,040
      Springfield, MO $33,400 150
      Central Missouri $30,780 100
      Southeast Missouri $30,780 110
      Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $30,500 40
      Southwest Missouri $30,240 90
      MS
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Hattiesburg, MS $30,030 40
      Mississippi $29,730 —
      Upper East Mississippi $29,320 100
      Jackson, MS $29,190 —
      Gulfport, MS $28,650 60
      Lower East Mississippi $27,820 60
      MT
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Bozeman, MT $40,180 120
      Billings, MT $37,860 110
      Missoula, MT $37,350 60
      Montana $37,060 580
      West Montana $36,630 120
      East-Central Montana $35,670 80
      NC
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Durham, NC $38,140 370
      Raleigh, NC $37,090 910
      Asheville, NC $36,980 260
      Charlotte, NC-SC $36,840 1,180
      Winston, NC $36,720 320
      North Carolina $36,680 5,190
      Wilmington, NC $36,060 400
      Greensboro, NC $35,980 370
      Pinehurst, NC $35,780 100
      Burlington, NC $35,690 80
      Eastern North Carolina $35,690 280
      Hickory, NC $35,580 120
      Central North Carolina $35,330 190
      Jacksonville, NC $35,090 80
      Greenville, NC $35,030 60
      Western North Carolina $34,850 310
      Rocky Mount, NC $34,450 50
      Fayetteville, NC $34,370 110
      ND
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Bismarck, ND $36,770 40
      Fargo, ND-MN $36,370 90
      North Dakota $36,370 240
      West North Dakota $35,340 50
      NE
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Omaha, NE-IA $35,840 340
      Lincoln, NE $35,820 140
      Northwest Nebraska $35,380 40
      Nebraska $35,210 800
      South Nebraska $34,210 160
      Northeast Nebraska $34,150 80
      Grand Island, NE $30,970 40
      NH
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Northern New Hampshire $36,130 60
      Manchester, NH $35,230 110
      New Hampshire $35,230 560
      Central New Hampshire $33,770 90
      Southwestern New Hampshire $30,580 50
      NJ
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      New Jersey $42,910 1,910
      Vineland, NJ $39,000 30
      Trenton, NJ $37,740 120
      Atlantic City, NJ $37,640 70
      NM
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Albuquerque, NM $36,200 240
      Santa Fe, NM $35,910 40
      New Mexico $35,600 470
      Eastern New Mexico $35,230 90
      Las Cruces, NM $34,930 50
      NV
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Reno, NV $37,130 320
      Balance of Nevada $36,160 90
      Nevada $36,160 1,400
      Las Vegas, NV $36,110 960
      NY
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      New York, NY-NJ $44,790 4,290
      New York $43,150 5,680
      Albany, NY $39,300 460
      Kingston, NY $39,230 80
      Kiryas Joel, NY $38,620 230
      Ithaca, NY $38,480 90
      Southwest New York $37,940 140
      Central East New York $37,800 130
      Syracuse, NY $37,720 220
      Capital/Northern New York $37,560 200
      Glens Falls, NY $37,350 30
      Buffalo, NY $36,980 400
      Rochester, NY $36,830 350
      Utica, NY $36,260 70
      Binghamton, NY $35,670 50
      OH
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Columbus, OH $35,580 1,030
      Cleveland, OH $35,030 640
      Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $35,010 800
      Ohio $34,820 4,190
      Akron, OH $34,600 280
      Toledo, OH $34,430 210
      Dayton, OH $34,310 300
      Canton, OH $33,450 140
      North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $33,320 230
      Lima, OH $33,280 40
      West Northwestern Ohio $31,290 170
      Youngstown, OH $30,400 120
      Eastern Ohio $30,200 100
      Southern Ohio $30,130 120
      Mansfield, OH $29,830 40
      OK
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Oklahoma City, OK $34,350 600
      Oklahoma $29,730 1,640
      Tulsa, OK $29,730 500
      Lawton, OK $28,990 40
      Southwest Oklahoma $28,080 60
      Southeast Oklahoma $28,050 170
      Northeast Oklahoma $27,790 110
      Northwest Oklahoma $27,750 110
      OR
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Bend, OR $45,100 230
      Portland, OR-WA $44,190 1,770
      Oregon $42,830 2,670
      Salem, OR $40,500 200
      Grants Pass, OR $39,610 50
      Coast Oregon $38,270 160
      Eugene, OR $37,900 280
      Corvallis, OR $37,390 90
      Medford, OR $37,170 150
      Albany, OR $36,280 60
      Eastern Oregon $35,070 80
      Other
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      District of Columbia $43,580 150
      PA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD $38,000 2,060
      Harrisburg, PA $37,190 150
      Allentown, PA-NJ $36,950 280
      Lebanon, PA $36,680 40
      Lancaster, PA $36,480 220
      Pennsylvania $36,480 4,390
      Northeastern Pennsylvania $36,200 150
      Reading, PA $36,200 130
      Pittsburgh, PA $36,120 830
      York, PA $35,730 120
      Southwestern Pennsylvania $35,620 90
      Scranton, PA $35,510 130
      Northwestern Pennsylvania $35,120 110
      Erie, PA $34,950 90
      Central Pennsylvania $34,920 190
      Gettysburg, PA $34,770 40
      State College, PA $34,420 80
      Altoona, PA $34,290 30
      Chambersburg, PA $32,280 70
      Williamsport, PA $31,220 40
      PR
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      San Juan, PR $21,840 430
      Aguadilla, PR $21,430 40
      Mayaguez, PR $19,910 40
      RI
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Rhode Island $48,050 360
      Providence, RI-MA $48,010 410
      SC
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Hilton Head Island, SC $41,960 110
      Greenville, SC $37,090 440
      Charleston, SC $36,720 380
      Columbia, SC $35,970 240
      South Carolina $35,680 1,840
      Myrtle Beach, SC $35,190 130
      Spartanburg, SC $34,380 100
      Florence, SC $29,700 40
      Northwestern South Carolina $28,690 60
      SD
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Sioux Falls, SD-MN $35,520 70
      South Dakota $32,810 270
      East South Dakota $32,690 80
      Rapid City, SD $31,750 50
      West South Dakota $28,530 60
      TN
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Nashville, TN $38,150 680
      Memphis, TN-MS-AR $36,740 440
      Tennessee $36,440 2,180
      Knoxville, TN $36,140 350
      Jackson, TN $35,840 50
      Chattanooga, TN-GA $35,820 190
      Clarksville, TN-KY $35,790 60
      North Central Tennessee $35,270 60
      Morristown, TN $35,210 50
      West Tennessee $34,820 70
      East Tennessee $34,780 80
      South Central Tennessee $34,730 80
      Johnson City, TN $34,620 70
      Kingsport, TN-VA $32,860 110
      TX
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Midland, TX $35,900 30
      Houston, TX $34,300 2,080
      Dallas, TX $34,140 2,220
      Austin, TX $33,750 850
      San Antonio, TX $31,720 850
      Texas $30,430 8,040
      Longview, TX $30,320 60
      Wichita Falls, TX $29,900 30
      Abilene, TX $29,710 60
      Coastal Plains Region of Texas $29,690 60
      Northwestern Region of Texas $29,300 60
      North Region of Texas $29,130 180
      Hill Country Region of Texas $28,960 120
      Eastern Region of Texas $28,860 50
      Waco, TX $28,800 40
      College Station, TX $28,660 380
      Corpus Christi, TX $28,650 80
      Amarillo, TX $28,640 110
      Killeen, TX $28,590 100
      Beaumont, TX $28,350 80
      El Paso, TX $27,820 120
      UT
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Wasatch Front Fringe Utah $36,980 40
      High Desert Utah $36,410 40
      Salt Lake City, UT $36,120 330
      Utah $35,730 720
      Ogden, UT $35,170 150
      Provo, UT $34,860 70
      St. George, UT $33,660 40
      Logan, UT-ID $30,950 60
      VA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Richmond, VA $36,500 830
      Virginia $36,500 4,880
      Charlottesville, VA $35,930 270
      Winchester, VA-WV $35,210 60
      Virginia Beach, VA-NC $34,960 880
      Northeast Virginia $34,900 70
      Harrisonburg, VA $34,850 60
      Southside Virginia $34,840 120
      Southwest Virginia $34,650 100
      Staunton, VA $34,330 100
      Northwest Virginia $34,260 120
      Lynchburg, VA $34,220 120
      Blacksburg, VA $34,120 150
      Roanoke, VA $33,260 220
      West Virginia $32,630 660
      Southern West Virginia $29,250 80
      Northern West Virginia $28,770 130
      VT
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Southern Vermont $36,340 70
      Northern Vermont $36,320 60
      Vermont $36,120 260
      Burlington, VT $35,300 120
      WA
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Seattle, WA $45,480 2,540
      Mount Vernon, WA $44,600 130
      Washington $43,590 4,720
      Wenatchee, WA $42,890 70
      Olympia, WA $39,760 190
      Bremerton, WA $39,550 200
      Yakima, WA $38,740 180
      Kennewick, WA $38,710 110
      Bellingham, WA $38,650 140
      Spokane, WA $38,030 340
      Western Washington $37,830 220
      Eastern Washington $37,130 170
      WI
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Oshkosh, WI $37,490 50
      Kenosha, WI $36,240 50
      La Crosse, WI-MN $35,990 50
      South Central Wisconsin $35,840 210
      Madison, WI $35,780 340
      Racine, WI $35,660 40
      Milwaukee, WI $35,540 540
      Appleton, WI $35,360 80
      Wisconsin $34,990 1,940
      Eau Claire, WI $34,560 60
      Northeastern Wisconsin $34,380 140
      Green Bay, WI $34,270 90
      Wausau, WI $34,100 50
      Fond du Lac, WI $31,670 40
      Northwestern Wisconsin $31,410 60
      Western Wisconsin $30,030 80
      WV
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Morgantown, WV $35,310 100
      Wheeling, WV-OH $34,560 50
      Beckley, WV $34,270 40
      Charleston, WV $30,580 100
      Huntington, WV-KY-OH $30,010 110
      WY
      Metro areaMedian salaryEmployed
      Eastern Wyoming $36,870 60
      Western Wyoming $36,430 60
      Wyoming $36,430 160