Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker in Kentucky earns a median of $34,140 a year ($16.41/hour equivalent), 10.5% below the national median of $38,150. Kentucky ranks #48 of 51 states. About 1,840 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $28,534 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $1,097 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,313.08
- Federal income tax
- −$73.72
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$81.41
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.04
- Kentucky income tax
- −$41.43
- Take-home pay
- $1,097.47
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,140
- Federal
- $1,917
- FICA
- $2,612
- State + local
- $1,077
- Net
- $28,534
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.5%
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 Kentucky 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 |
| #48 | Kentucky | $34,140 |
| #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 Kentucky?
The median salary is $34,140 a year and the average is $33,710 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Kentucky ranks #48 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 11% below the national median of $38,150.
What is $34,140 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $28,534 a year ($1,097 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.