Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (SOC 31-9096) employed 126,580 people in May 2025. The median pay is $38,150 a year ($18.34 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,120 and the highest-paid 10% more than $49,150. BLS projects its employment to change by +9.1% between 2025 and 2035 (about 23,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Rhode Island ($49,770), District of Columbia ($49,080), Massachusetts ($46,670). Most jobs: California (16,080), Texas (8,440), North Carolina (6,910).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| 25th percentile | $35,660 | $17.14 |
| Median | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Mean | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| 75th percentile | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $49,150 | $23.63 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 132,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 144,200 |
| Change in jobs | 12,000 |
| Percent change | +9.1% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 23,200 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,240 | 0.72 | $35,800 | $27,970 | $43,360 | -6% | 36% |
| Alaska | 130 | 0.49 | $36,490 | $27,690 | $47,010 | -4% | 47% |
| Arizona | 3,340 | 1.27 | $38,250 | $35,530 | $47,460 | +0% | 52% |
| Arkansas | 1,460 | 1.38 | $34,570 | $27,860 | $42,180 | -9% | 34% |
| California | 16,080 | 1.08 | $46,260 | $37,800 | $57,940 | +21% | 55% |
| Colorado | 2,910 | 1.25 | $38,900 | $35,710 | $47,450 | +2% | 56% |
| Connecticut | 1,390 | 1.01 | $44,250 | $35,920 | $59,950 | +16% | 42% |
| District of Columbia | 240 | 0.41 | $49,080 | $46,570 | $72,840 | +29% | 47% |
| Florida | 6,790 | 0.84 | $37,830 | $31,090 | $47,270 | -1% | 57% |
| Georgia | 4,570 | 1.15 | $35,850 | $29,210 | $44,810 | -6% | 50% |
| Hawaii | 570 | 1.12 | $44,070 | $35,200 | $49,400 | +16% | 53% |
| Idaho | 680 | 0.97 | $37,530 | $24,230 | $44,730 | -2% | 44% |
| Illinois | 3,270 | 0.66 | $37,480 | $31,550 | $47,000 | -2% | 42% |
| Indiana | 2,810 | 1.08 | $36,420 | $29,580 | $44,780 | -5% | 36% |
| Iowa | 1,380 | 1.09 | $35,720 | $29,440 | $47,220 | -6% | 33% |
| Kansas | 1,570 | 1.34 | $35,680 | $28,720 | $47,930 | -6% | 36% |
| Kentucky | 1,840 | 1.13 | $34,140 | $26,520 | $45,430 | -11% | 35% |
| Louisiana | 1,230 | 0.78 | $30,480 | $28,400 | $37,510 | -20% | 42% |
| Maine | 690 | 1.32 | $45,510 | $37,380 | $59,790 | +19% | 32% |
| Maryland | 2,220 | 0.99 | $44,770 | $37,150 | $60,710 | +17% | 46% |
| Massachusetts | 2,130 | 0.72 | $46,670 | $35,460 | $63,130 | +22% | 48% |
| Michigan | 4,420 | 1.23 | $37,960 | $30,410 | $46,730 | -0% | 37% |
| Minnesota | 1,450 | 0.60 | $45,280 | $36,410 | $49,060 | +19% | 34% |
| Mississippi | 560 | 0.59 | $30,360 | $26,060 | $45,440 | -20% | 39% |
| Missouri | 2,010 | 0.84 | $36,660 | $30,280 | $45,940 | -4% | 35% |
| Montana | 550 | 1.32 | $38,340 | $29,430 | $45,220 | +0% | 37% |
| Nebraska | 900 | 1.08 | $36,100 | $29,930 | $42,050 | -5% | 37% |
| Nevada | 1,380 | 1.09 | $36,920 | $35,920 | $47,910 | -3% | 56% |
| New Hampshire | 770 | 1.39 | $36,910 | $29,160 | $45,690 | -3% | 51% |
| New Jersey | 3,270 | 0.94 | $46,160 | $36,720 | $57,670 | +21% | 47% |
| New Mexico | 520 | 0.73 | $37,500 | $29,870 | $48,310 | -2% | 36% |
| New York | 5,790 | 0.73 | $44,750 | $36,450 | $53,460 | +17% | 44% |
| North Carolina | 6,910 | 1.72 | $37,070 | $28,830 | $46,470 | -3% | 43% |
| North Dakota | 270 | 0.77 | $37,160 | $33,800 | $46,830 | -3% | 32% |
| Ohio | 4,640 | 1.03 | $36,340 | $29,330 | $47,070 | -5% | 36% |
| Oklahoma | 1,740 | 1.25 | $34,850 | $23,170 | $46,810 | -9% | 36% |
| Oregon | 3,170 | 1.98 | $44,370 | $36,480 | $49,470 | +16% | 43% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,760 | 0.76 | $37,140 | $30,010 | $47,200 | -3% | 40% |
| Rhode Island | 380 | 0.93 | $49,770 | $35,510 | $50,130 | +30% | 34% |
| South Carolina | 1,720 | 0.92 | $36,980 | $27,390 | $48,630 | -3% | 41% |
| South Dakota | 250 | 0.67 | $34,700 | $28,390 | $36,700 | -9% | 35% |
| Tennessee | 3,530 | 1.32 | $36,320 | $30,230 | $43,700 | -5% | 42% |
| Texas | 8,440 | 0.74 | $34,850 | $24,070 | $46,890 | -9% | 51% |
| Utah | 580 | 0.41 | $37,560 | $31,890 | $49,100 | -2% | 51% |
| Vermont | 370 | 1.51 | $37,290 | $30,690 | $45,880 | -2% | 42% |
| Virginia | 4,810 | 1.44 | $37,450 | $30,430 | $48,580 | -2% | 53% |
| Washington | 4,380 | 1.51 | $44,150 | $38,470 | $55,050 | +16% | 50% |
| West Virginia | 730 | 1.28 | $32,350 | $25,830 | $38,040 | -15% | 33% |
| Wisconsin | 2,200 | 0.92 | $36,850 | $30,400 | $45,630 | -3% | 37% |
| Wyoming | 150 | 0.67 | $37,880 | $30,610 | $39,080 | -1% | 32% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,150 | $49,400 | $43,820 | $59,210 | 1.11 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 620 | $49,210 | $44,820 | $58,340 | 0.67 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 350 | $47,270 | $39,420 | $58,370 | 2.11 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,740 | $46,990 | $38,340 | $60,780 | 1.98 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,970 | $46,720 | $37,850 | $57,400 | 1.57 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,560 | $46,160 | $39,200 | $57,650 | 0.72 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,830 | $46,070 | $37,990 | $57,760 | 0.95 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,150 | $45,910 | $37,330 | $49,060 | 0.72 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,800 | $45,790 | $36,160 | $63,420 | 0.82 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,890 | $45,690 | $38,920 | $55,140 | 1.92 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,400 | $45,640 | $42,600 | $58,060 | 1.42 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 480 | $45,530 | $37,400 | $56,090 | 1.81 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,740 | $45,320 | $36,740 | $60,170 | 1.07 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,270 | $44,810 | $36,930 | $54,160 | 0.91 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,520 | $44,260 | $37,760 | $55,400 | 1.16 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,120 | $44,110 | $37,960 | $58,190 | 1.02 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 440 | $44,050 | $35,200 | $45,430 | 1.20 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 480 | $43,190 | $34,300 | $50,130 | 0.83 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,150 | $39,840 | $35,160 | $54,930 | 0.91 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 310 | $39,670 | $35,880 | $46,970 | 2.38 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 400 | $39,520 | $35,230 | $47,570 | 1.10 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,190 | $39,280 | $34,890 | $47,140 | 0.60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 340 | $39,240 | $37,570 | $47,020 | 1.64 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 590 | $38,970 | $34,870 | $46,610 | 1.20 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 360 | $38,870 | $36,720 | $58,800 | 1.11 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,470 | $38,830 | $30,810 | $47,210 | 0.95 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,390 | $38,710 | $37,350 | $47,600 | 1.24 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 460 | $38,620 | $35,800 | $58,290 | 0.94 |
| Madison, WI | 410 | $38,490 | $31,280 | $46,860 | 1.23 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,440 | $38,340 | $31,410 | $47,360 | 0.63 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 400 | $38,120 | $28,720 | $49,860 | 1.14 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,210 | $38,110 | $28,210 | $47,010 | 2.00 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 420 | $38,050 | $34,600 | $45,850 | 0.95 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,110 | $38,000 | $32,130 | $47,140 | 0.94 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 480 | $37,980 | $28,600 | $47,930 | 1.71 |
| Reno, NV | 310 | $37,970 | $37,000 | $49,920 | 1.39 |
| Boise City, ID | 310 | $37,890 | $26,670 | $44,720 | 0.97 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,070 | $37,790 | $34,590 | $44,470 | 1.20 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 970 | $37,790 | $31,820 | $47,890 | 0.89 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,690 | $37,780 | $30,970 | $46,790 | 1.53 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 560 | $37,770 | $30,870 | $46,250 | 0.85 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 620 | $37,710 | $31,090 | $47,120 | 1.00 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 350 | $37,660 | $28,180 | $49,560 | 1.10 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 960 | $37,600 | $30,640 | $49,450 | 1.07 |
| Rochester, NY | 360 | $37,580 | $33,650 | $45,830 | 0.89 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 320 | $37,560 | $30,110 | $47,440 | 0.98 |
| Richmond, VA | 820 | $37,470 | $30,060 | $46,780 | 1.53 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 980 | $37,330 | $30,650 | $45,840 | 1.09 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,100 | $37,280 | $30,200 | $47,490 | 1.22 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 720 | $37,220 | $30,440 | $46,710 | 0.63 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 680 | $36,990 | $30,920 | $44,580 | 1.37 |
| Birmingham, AL | 430 | $36,980 | $28,580 | $46,090 | 1.02 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 660 | $36,940 | $30,240 | $47,430 | 0.73 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,000 | $36,890 | $29,350 | $48,740 | 1.12 |
| Wilmington, NC | 510 | $36,860 | $29,850 | $45,650 | 3.26 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 430 | $36,840 | $30,840 | $44,720 | 1.06 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 970 | $36,710 | $35,080 | $44,680 | 1.05 |
| Cleveland, OH | 700 | $36,680 | $29,680 | $46,810 | 0.84 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 430 | $36,620 | $29,640 | $47,460 | 1.94 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 380 | $36,460 | $34,870 | $45,700 | 1.49 |
The median is $38,150 a year ($18.34 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $30,120 and the highest-paid tenth over $49,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
126,580 in May 2025, and BLS projects +9.1% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Rhode Island, with a median of $49,770 (among states with published figures).