Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $36,980 -0.9% vs national
Median hourly $17.78
10th percentile $33,950
90th percentile $44,700
Employed locally 400
National median $37,320

Compare Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary & buying power

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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
in
Buffalo, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,950
    25th
    $35,530
    50th (median)
    $36,980
    75th
    $42,750
    90th
    $44,700

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary vs area income 52% Median Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $58,120
    New Haven, CT $57,320
    Rhode Island $48,050
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $48,010
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $47,460
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,040

    Nearby metros — Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,950
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $44,790
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $39,300
    Kingston, NY $39,230
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $38,620
    Ithaca, NY $38,480

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Home Health and Personal Care Aides $35,600
    Nursing Assistants $38,940
    Medical Assistants $44,960
    Dental Assistants $46,240
    Phlebotomists $45,600
    Medical Equipment Preparers $45,320

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Buffalo, NY is $17.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.05 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salaries?

    The median Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary in Buffalo, NY is 0.9% below the national median of $37,320. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (10th percentile) earn around $33,950 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,530.