Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker earns a median of $38,150 a year ($18.34 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $40,340. About 126,580 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $38,150
- Gross pay
- $1,467.31
- Federal income tax
- −$92.23
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$90.97
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$21.28
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,262.83
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $38,150
- Federal
- $2,398
- FICA
- $2,918
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $32,834
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $49,770 | $44,700 | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $49,080 | $55,760 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | $48,390 | 2,130 |
| California | $46,260 | $47,250 | 16,080 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | $46,060 | 3,270 |
| Maine | $45,510 | $46,580 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | $43,420 | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $44,770 | $45,950 | 2,220 |
| New York | $44,750 | $43,880 | 5,790 |
| Oregon | $44,370 | $43,630 | 3,170 |
| Connecticut | $44,250 | $46,150 | 1,390 |
| Washington | $44,150 | $45,170 | 4,380 |
| Hawaii | $44,070 | $41,970 | 570 |
| Colorado | $38,900 | $41,540 | 2,910 |
| Delaware | $38,610 | $43,270 | — |
| Montana | $38,340 | $38,550 | 550 |
| Arizona | $38,250 | $40,630 | 3,340 |
| Michigan | $37,960 | $39,060 | 4,420 |
| Wyoming | $37,880 | $36,120 | 150 |
| Florida | $37,830 | $40,030 | 6,790 |
| Utah | $37,560 | $40,330 | 580 |
| Idaho | $37,530 | $36,520 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $37,500 | $37,990 | 520 |
| Illinois | $37,480 | $39,410 | 3,270 |
| Virginia | $37,450 | $39,630 | 4,810 |
| Vermont | $37,290 | $37,630 | 370 |
| North Dakota | $37,160 | $39,540 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,140 | $38,720 | 3,760 |
| North Carolina | $37,070 | $37,540 | 6,910 |
| South Carolina | $36,980 | $37,000 | 1,720 |
| Nevada | $36,920 | $39,200 | 1,380 |
| New Hampshire | $36,910 | $37,800 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $36,850 | $37,400 | 2,200 |
| Missouri | $36,660 | $37,810 | 2,010 |
| Alaska | $36,490 | $37,520 | 130 |
| Indiana | $36,420 | $36,310 | 2,810 |
| Ohio | $36,340 | $37,200 | 4,640 |
| Tennessee | $36,320 | $36,330 | 3,530 |
| Nebraska | $36,100 | $35,980 | 900 |
| Georgia | $35,850 | $36,380 | 4,570 |
| Alabama | $35,800 | $34,780 | 1,240 |
| Iowa | $35,720 | $37,050 | 1,380 |
| Kansas | $35,680 | $36,490 | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $34,850 | $34,200 | 1,740 |
| Texas | $34,850 | $35,730 | 8,440 |
| South Dakota | $34,700 | $33,240 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $34,570 | $33,520 | 1,460 |
| Kentucky | $34,140 | $33,710 | 1,840 |
| West Virginia | $32,350 | $32,260 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $30,480 | $32,670 | 1,230 |
| Mississippi | $30,360 | $32,570 | 560 |
Similar jobs
- Orderly: $38,290
- Pharmacy Aide: $37,680
- Occupational Therapy Aide: $39,160
- Medical Transcriptionist: $40,410
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide: $35,800
- Physical Therapist Aide: $35,240
- CNA: $42,260
- Psychiatric Aide: $44,910
BLS occupation: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 31-9096). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $18.34; the average is $19.39.
Which state pays veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the most?
Rhode Island ($49,770 median), followed by District of Columbia and Massachusetts.
What is the salary range for a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker?
The bottom 10% earn under $30,120 and the top 10% earn over $49,150 a year.
How much is $38,150 after taxes?
About $32,834 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $31,829 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.