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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019

31-9096 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists. Excludes “Animal Caretakers” (39-2021).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
97,030 2.2 % $14.28 $29,690 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.99 $11.58 $13.75 $16.45 $19.14
Annual Wage (2) $20,790 $24,080 $28,590 $34,220 $39,800

Industry profile for this occupation:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 86,180 11.48 $13.88 $28,880
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3,630 0.12 $19.05 $39,620
Scientific Research and Development Services 3,310 0.47 $17.17 $35,720
Social Advocacy Organizations 1,260 0.56 $13.86 $28,820
Other Personal Services 610 0.17 $13.81 $28,710

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 86,180 11.48 $13.88 $28,880
Social Advocacy Organizations 1,260 0.56 $13.86 $28,820
Scientific Research and Development Services 3,310 0.47 $17.17 $35,720
Other Personal Services 610 0.17 $13.81 $28,710
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3,630 0.12 $19.05 $39,620

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 110 0.04 $21.52 $44,750
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) 610 0.01 $19.44 $40,430
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3,630 0.12 $19.05 $39,620
Support Activities for Animal Production (8) (8) $18.40 $38,280
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 380 0.01 $17.99 $37,430

Geographic profile for this occupation:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 12,360 0.71 1.08 $16.19 $33,680
Texas 6,060 0.49 0.74 $13.09 $27,230
Florida 5,410 0.62 0.93 $13.84 $28,790
New York 4,890 0.51 0.78 $15.97 $33,220
Virginia 4,320 1.11 1.68 $13.25 $27,550




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Maine 740 1.21 1.83 $19.71 $41,000
Oregon 2,180 1.14 1.73 $15.77 $32,810
Washington 3,670 1.11 1.67 $15.45 $32,140
Virginia 4,320 1.11 1.68 $13.25 $27,550
Oklahoma 1,710 1.06 1.60 $12.72 $26,470




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Maine 740 1.21 1.83 $19.71 $41,000
Massachusetts 1,470 0.40 0.61 $19.27 $40,070
Connecticut 1,200 0.72 1.09 $16.93 $35,210
California 12,360 0.71 1.08 $16.19 $33,680
New York 4,890 0.51 0.78 $15.97 $33,220





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,170 0.67 1.01 $15.32 $31,860
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 4,110 0.43 0.64 $15.77 $32,800
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,420 0.76 1.15 $14.12 $29,370
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,230 0.61 0.92 $13.45 $27,970
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,200 1.09 1.65 $15.45 $32,130
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 2,040 0.96 1.45 $14.87 $30,930
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 1,840 0.39 0.60 $13.88 $28,870
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,600 0.81 1.22 $13.83 $28,770
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 1,480 1.22 1.85 $16.17 $33,620
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 1,350 0.90 1.37 $15.92 $33,110