The average salary for a veterinary assistant in the United States is around $23,324 per year.
Avg Salary
Veterinary assistants earn an average yearly salary of $23,324.
Wages typically start from $16,961 and go up to $32,075.
64% below national average Updated in 2019
Veterinary assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$15.42 per hour
$32,075 per year
Senior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$13.26 per hour
$27,582 per year
Mid-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$11.21 per hour
$23,324 per year
Junior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$9.48 per hour
$19,724 per year
Starting level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$8.15 per hour
$16,961 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Veterinary assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $34,860 |
| Maine | $32,690 |
| New York | $30,725 |
| Oregon | $30,700 |
| Washington | $30,260 |
| Connecticut | $29,790 |
| Colorado | $29,720 |
| Vermont | $29,600 |
| Hawaii | $29,170 |
| California | $29,024 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,840 |
| North Carolina | $28,830 |
| Minnesota | $28,760 |
| Maryland | $28,420 |
| Iowa | $28,410 |
| Missouri | $28,110 |
| Nevada | $28,010 |
| Alaska | $27,476 |
| District of Columbia | $27,140 |
| Wyoming | $27,040 |
| Montana | $27,000 |
| New Hampshire | $26,880 |
| Virginia | $26,350 |
| Michigan | $26,010 |
| Delaware | $25,980 |
| Georgia | $25,980 |
| Idaho | $25,903 |
| North Dakota | $25,670 |
| Florida | $25,650 |
| New Jersey | $25,570 |
| South Carolina | $25,450 |
| Kentucky | $25,380 |
| Kansas | $25,229 |
| Wisconsin | $25,200 |
| Ohio | $25,120 |
| Oklahoma | $25,080 |
| Texas | $25,020 |
| Nebraska | $24,640 |
| Louisiana | $24,310 |
| Rhode Island | $24,170 |
| Utah | $24,130 |
| Arkansas | $23,993 |
| Arizona | $23,816 |
| Tennessee | $23,800 |
| Indiana | $23,478 |
| South Dakota | $23,450 |
| Mississippi | $23,350 |
| Illinois | $23,242 |
| New Mexico | $23,130 |
| West Virginia | $22,400 |
| Alabama | $20,600 |
| 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 15% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than phlebotomists but more than animal caretakers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Phlebotomist salary | $31K |
| Veterinary technologist salary | $30K |
| Pharmacy technician salary | $30K |
| Medical assistant salary | $29K |
| Medical secretary salary | $27K |
| Veterinary assistant salary | $23K |
| Animal caretaker salary | $22K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)