Veterinary assistant earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:

$11.76 per hour

$24,470 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:

$9.68 per hour

$20,130 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:

$8.92 per hour

$18,550 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:

$8.25 per hour

$17,150 per year

10th percentile

Starting level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:

$7.83 per hour

$16,290 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Veterinary assistant salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Rhode Island $49,770
District of Columbia $49,080
Massachusetts $46,670
California $46,260
New Jersey $46,160
Maine $45,510
Minnesota $45,280
Maryland $44,770
New York $44,750
Oregon $44,370
Connecticut $44,250
Washington $44,150
Hawaii $44,070
Colorado $38,900
Delaware $38,610
Montana $38,340
Arizona $38,250
Michigan $37,960
Wyoming $37,880
Florida $37,830
Utah $37,560
Idaho $37,530
New Mexico $37,500
Illinois $37,480
Virginia $37,450
Vermont $37,290
North Dakota $37,160
Pennsylvania $37,140
North Carolina $37,070
South Carolina $36,980
Nevada $36,920
New Hampshire $36,910
Wisconsin $36,850
Missouri $36,660
Alaska $36,490
Indiana $36,420
Ohio $36,340
Tennessee $36,320
Nebraska $36,100
Georgia $35,850
Alabama $35,800
Iowa $35,720
Kansas $35,680
Oklahoma $34,850
Texas $34,850
South Dakota $34,700
Arkansas $34,570
Kentucky $34,140
West Virginia $32,350
Louisiana $30,480
Mississippi $30,360
Puerto Rico $18,550

How much does a Veterinary Assistant earn?

Veterinary assistants care for animals and perform routine tasks, such as grooming and feeding. Typically, the veterinary assistant position is looked at as a stepping stone to more qualified positions in the sector and most individuals pursue further education to become either veterinary technicians, or veterinarians. If you love animals and like to take care of them, becoming a veterinary assistant is the first step in understanding whether you can handle the responsibility, and whether you want to pursue higher stages of animal care. At the same time, you can obtain a veterinary assistant salary that will help pay for further education and qualifications.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported over 72,000 veterinary assistants working nationwide. These veterinary assistants earned an average annual salary of $24,430, or $11.75 an hour. The top 10 percent could earn $34,970 or more annually, the equivalent of $16.81 an hour, while the bottom 10 percent could earn $16,970 or less, the equivalent of $8.16 an hour.

How do veterinary assistant salaries compare to similar careers?

Veterinary assistants earn about the same as related careers in Puerto Rico. On average, they make less than pharmacy technicians but more than home health aides.

Career Median Salary
Pharmacy technician salary $19K
Medical assistant salary $20K
Surgical technologist salary $19K
Optician salary $20K
Nurse practitioner salary $19K
Veterinary assistant salary $19K
Dental assistant salary $18K
Orderly salary $19K
Animal caretaker salary $18K
Home health aide salary $18K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)