Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker in Tennessee earns a median of $36,320 a year ($17.46/hour equivalent), 4.8% below the national median of $38,150. Tennessee ranks #38 of 51 states. About 3,530 people do this job in Tennessee.
Take-home pay in Tennessee
At the Tennessee median, a single filer keeps about $31,363 a year after federal, FICA and Tennessee taxes — $1,206 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,396.92
- Federal income tax
- −$83.78
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$86.61
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.26
- Tennessee income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,206.27
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $36,320
- Federal
- $2,178
- FICA
- $2,778
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $31,363
- 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.
How Tennessee 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 |
| #38 | Tennessee | $36,320 |
| #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 Tennessee?
The median salary is $36,320 a year and the average is $36,330 (BLS May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Tennessee ranks #38 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 5% below the national median of $38,150.
What is $36,320 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $31,363 a year ($1,206 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.