Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary in Illinois
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker in Illinois earns a median of $37,480 a year ($18.02/hour equivalent), 1.8% below the national median of $38,150. Illinois ranks #24 of 51 states. About 3,270 people do this job in Illinois.
Take-home pay in Illinois
At the Illinois median, a single filer keeps about $30,585 a year after federal, FICA and Illinois taxes — $1,176 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Illinois paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,441.54
- Federal income tax
- −$89.14
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$89.38
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.90
- Illinois income tax
- −$65.79
- Take-home pay
- $1,176.33
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $37,480
- Federal
- $2,318
- FICA
- $2,867
- State + local
- $1,710
- Net
- $30,585
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 5.0%
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.
How Illinois 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 |
| #24 | Illinois | $37,480 |
| #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 Illinois?
The median salary is $37,480 a year and the average is $39,410 (BLS May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Illinois ranks #24 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 2% below the national median of $38,150.
What is $37,480 after taxes in Illinois?
About $30,585 a year ($1,176 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
Your business here? Sponsor this calculator from $19/week. See placements
Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.