Vet assistant salary by percentile
Half of the 126,580 workers BLS counts in this occupation earn more than $38,150, and the middle half earn $35,660 to $45,710.[onet_vasst][oews][oews_api] The occupation, veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (SOC 31-9096), also includes people who care for animals in research labs; O*NET's reported titles range from "Veterinarian Assistant (Vet Assistant)" and "Emergency Veterinary Assistant" to "Research Animal Attendant".[sum_vasst]
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,120 | $14.48 | $26,381 |
| 25th | $35,660 | $17.14 | $30,833 |
| Median (50th) | $38,150 | $18.34 | $32,834 |
| 75th | $45,710 | $21.98 | $38,908 |
| 90th | $49,150 | $23.63 | $41,672 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
Pay in this job is low and tightly bunched: the whole 10th-to-90th range spans $19,030. A $45,000 offer is already about the 73rd percentile nationally.
Vet assistant hourly pay
Vet assistant hourly pay is $18.34 at the median, $14.48 at the 10th percentile and $23.63 at the 90th.[onet_vasst] BLS converts at 2,080 hours a year and counts straight-time pay only, so overtime and emergency-hospital shift differentials come on top.[oews_faq]
| Percentile | Hourly | 24 h/week | 32 h/week | 40 h/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $14.48 | $18,072 | $24,096 | $30,120 |
| 25th | $17.14 | $21,396 | $28,528 | $35,660 |
| Median | $18.34 | $22,890 | $30,520 | $38,150 |
| 75th | $21.98 | $27,426 | $36,568 | $45,710 |
| 90th | $23.63 | $29,490 | $39,320 | $49,150 |
Veterinary assistant salary by state
Rhode Island pays veterinary assistants the most ($49,770 median), followed by District of Columbia ($49,080) and Massachusetts ($46,670); Mississippi is lowest at $30,360.[onet_vasst]
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Rhode Island | $49,770 | $23.93 | $35,510 | $50,130 |
| 2. District of Columbia | $49,080 | $23.60 | $46,570 | $72,840 |
| 3. Massachusetts | $46,670 | $22.44 | $35,460 | $63,130 |
| 4. California | $46,260 | $22.24 | $37,800 | $57,940 |
| 5. New Jersey | $46,160 | $22.19 | $36,720 | $57,670 |
| 6. Maine | $45,510 | $21.88 | $37,380 | $59,790 |
| 7. Minnesota | $45,280 | $21.77 | $36,410 | $49,060 |
| 8. Maryland | $44,770 | $21.52 | $37,150 | $60,710 |
| 9. New York | $44,750 | $21.51 | $36,450 | $53,460 |
| 10. Oregon | $44,370 | $21.33 | $36,480 | $49,470 |
| 11. Connecticut | $44,250 | $21.27 | $35,920 | $59,950 |
| 12. Washington | $44,150 | $21.23 | $38,470 | $55,050 |
| 13. Hawaii | $44,070 | $21.19 | $35,200 | $49,400 |
| 14. Colorado | $38,900 | $18.70 | $35,710 | $47,450 |
| 15. Delaware | $38,610 | $18.56 | $34,680 | $57,930 |
| 16. Montana | $38,340 | $18.43 | $29,430 | $45,220 |
| 17. Arizona | $38,250 | $18.39 | $35,530 | $47,460 |
| 18. Michigan | $37,960 | $18.25 | $30,410 | $46,730 |
| 19. Wyoming | $37,880 | $18.21 | $30,610 | $39,080 |
| 20. Florida | $37,830 | $18.19 | $31,090 | $47,270 |
| 21. Utah | $37,560 | $18.06 | $31,890 | $49,100 |
| 22. Idaho | $37,530 | $18.04 | $24,230 | $44,730 |
| 23. New Mexico | $37,500 | $18.03 | $29,870 | $48,310 |
| 24. Illinois | $37,480 | $18.02 | $31,550 | $47,000 |
| 25. Virginia | $37,450 | $18.00 | $30,430 | $48,580 |
| 26. Vermont | $37,290 | $17.93 | $30,690 | $45,880 |
| 27. North Dakota | $37,160 | $17.87 | $33,800 | $46,830 |
| 28. Pennsylvania | $37,140 | $17.86 | $30,010 | $47,200 |
| 29. North Carolina | $37,070 | $17.82 | $28,830 | $46,470 |
| 30. South Carolina | $36,980 | $17.78 | $27,390 | $48,630 |
| 31. Nevada | $36,920 | $17.75 | $35,920 | $47,910 |
| 32. New Hampshire | $36,910 | $17.75 | $29,160 | $45,690 |
| 33. Wisconsin | $36,850 | $17.72 | $30,400 | $45,630 |
| 34. Missouri | $36,660 | $17.63 | $30,280 | $45,940 |
| 35. Alaska | $36,490 | $17.54 | $27,690 | $47,010 |
| 36. Indiana | $36,420 | $17.51 | $29,580 | $44,780 |
| 37. Ohio | $36,340 | $17.47 | $29,330 | $47,070 |
| 38. Tennessee | $36,320 | $17.46 | $30,230 | $43,700 |
| 39. Nebraska | $36,100 | $17.36 | $29,930 | $42,050 |
| 40. Georgia | $35,850 | $17.24 | $29,210 | $44,810 |
| 41. Alabama | $35,800 | $17.21 | $27,970 | $43,360 |
| 42. Iowa | $35,720 | $17.17 | $29,440 | $47,220 |
| 43. Kansas | $35,680 | $17.15 | $28,720 | $47,930 |
| 44. Oklahoma | $34,850 | $16.75 | $23,170 | $46,810 |
| 45. Texas | $34,850 | $16.75 | $24,070 | $46,890 |
| 46. South Dakota | $34,700 | $16.68 | $28,390 | $36,700 |
| 47. Arkansas | $34,570 | $16.62 | $27,860 | $42,180 |
| 48. Kentucky | $34,140 | $16.41 | $26,520 | $45,430 |
| 49. West Virginia | $32,350 | $15.55 | $25,830 | $38,040 |
| 50. Louisiana | $30,480 | $14.65 | $28,400 | $37,510 |
| 51. Mississippi | $30,360 | $14.60 | $26,060 | $45,440 |
Highest-paying metro areas for vet assistants
The best-paying metro area for this occupation is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a $49,400 median.[onet_vasst]
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,400 | $23.75 | $43,820 | $59,210 |
| 2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,210 | $23.66 | $44,820 | $58,340 |
| 3. Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,200 | $23.65 | $39,050 | $50,070 |
| 4. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,270 | $22.73 | $39,420 | $58,370 |
| 5. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,150 | $22.67 | $39,100 | $58,510 |
| 6. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,990 | $22.59 | $38,340 | $60,780 |
| 7. Salinas, CA | $46,990 | $22.59 | $38,260 | $57,070 |
| 8. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,720 | $22.46 | $37,850 | $57,400 |
| 9. Vallejo, CA | $46,590 | $22.40 | $38,590 | $49,990 |
| 10. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,160 | $22.19 | $39,200 | $57,650 |
Vet assistant vs vet tech
A vet tech earns $47,380 at the median, $9,230 more than a vet assistant, and the gap widens at the top of the range ($63,180 against $49,150 at the 90th percentile).[onet_vet][onet_vasst] The difference comes from training and credentials: BLS lists a high school diploma and short on-the-job training as the typical entry route for veterinary assistants, but an associate's degree for veterinary technicians, who then pass the $375 Veterinary Technician National Exam and hold a state credential in the 42 states that regulate the title.[ooh_vasst][ooh_vet][aavsb_apply][aavsb_juris]
| Veterinary assistant | Veterinary technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $38,150 | $47,380 |
| 10th percentile | $30,120 | $35,710 |
| 90th percentile | $49,150 | $63,180 |
| Typical entry education (BLS) | High school diploma or equivalent | Associate's degree |
| National exam | None required | VTNE, $375 |
| Job growth 2025–35 (BLS) | 9%* | 9% |
*Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers combined.[ooh_vasst]
BLS notes that certification for laboratory animal caretakers is not mandatory.[ooh_vasst] For the vet tech path, credential titles by state and a school payback calculator are on veterinary technician salary, and California, the second-best-paying state for vet techs, is covered on vet tech salary in California. Other short-training careers are ranked on the allied health careers overview, including medical assistant salary for a human-health comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much do vet assistants make?
$38,150 a year at the national median (BLS, May 2025); the middle half earn $35,660 to $45,710.
How much do vet assistants make an hour?
$18.34 at the median, $14.48 at the 10th percentile and $23.63 at the 90th.
What is the difference between a vet assistant and a vet tech?
Vet techs usually have an associate's degree and pass the VTNE; vet assistants usually start with a high school diploma. Vet techs earn $9,230 more at the median.
Which state pays vet assistants the most?
Rhode Island ($49,770 median), then District of Columbia and Massachusetts.
Sources
- Local Wages: 31-9096.00 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (state and metro percentiles)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates
- OEWS national employment and wage series, May 2025 (BLS Public Data API, series OEUN0000000000000
01 and 13) - OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- Summary Report for 31-9096.00 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (sample job titles)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- Local Wages: 29-2056.00 Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (state and metro percentiles)
- Applying to Take the VTNE ($375 exam fee)
- 2026 Regulated and Non-Regulated Jurisdictions (veterinary technician credential titles)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Contribution and Benefit Base ($184,500 for 2026)