Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary in Missouri
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker in Missouri earns a median of $36,660 a year ($17.63/hour equivalent), 3.9% below the national median of $38,150. Missouri ranks #34 of 51 states. About 2,010 people do this job in Missouri.
Take-home pay in Missouri
At the Missouri median, a single filer keeps about $30,877 a year after federal, FICA and Missouri taxes — $1,188 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Missouri paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,410.00
- Federal income tax
- −$85.35
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$87.42
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.45
- Missouri income tax
- −$29.22
- Take-home pay
- $1,187.57
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $36,660
- Federal
- $2,219
- FICA
- $2,804
- State + local
- $760
- Net
- $30,877
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.7%
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 Missouri 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 |
| #34 | Missouri | $36,660 |
| #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 Missouri?
The median salary is $36,660 a year and the average is $37,810 (BLS May 2025).
Is Missouri a good state for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Missouri ranks #34 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 4% below the national median of $38,150.
What is $36,660 after taxes in Missouri?
About $30,877 a year ($1,188 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.