Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary in Colorado
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker in Colorado earns a median of $38,900 a year ($18.70/hour equivalent), 2.0% above the national median of $38,150. Colorado ranks #14 of 51 states. About 2,910 people do this job in Colorado.
Take-home pay in Colorado
At the Colorado median, a single filer keeps about $32,262 a year after federal, FICA and Colorado taxes — $1,241 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Colorado paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,496.15
- Federal income tax
- −$95.69
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$92.76
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$21.69
- Colorado income tax
- −$38.58
- CO FAMLI
- −$6.58
- Take-home pay
- $1,240.84
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $38,900
- Federal
- $2,488
- FICA
- $2,976
- State + local
- $1,174
- Net
- $32,262
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.4%
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.
How Colorado compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rhode Island | $49,770 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $49,080 |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $46,670 |
| #4 | California | $46,260 |
| #5 | New Jersey | $46,160 |
| #14 | Colorado | $38,900 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $32,350 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $30,480 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $30,360 |
See the national veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (SOC 31-9096), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make in Colorado?
The median salary is $38,900 a year and the average is $41,540 (BLS May 2025).
Is Colorado a good state for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Colorado ranks #14 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 2% above the national median of $38,150.
What is $38,900 after taxes in Colorado?
About $32,262 a year ($1,241 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.