How much does a vet assistant make?
a year · about $18 an hour
A typical vet assistant in the United States makes $38,150 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A vet assistant feeds and exercises animals, scrubs kennels, then gently holds a nervous pet while the vet examines it. They prepare sterile tools, collect samples, give prescribed medicine, and watch animals recover after surgery.
Did you know? Some vet assistants work in research labs, not pet clinics. They feed laboratory animals, clean their kennels, and watch for changes in their health.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $30,120 and $49,150How do you become one?
Most people finish high school or earn a GED, then learn through short on-the-job training; animal experience can help but is not required. Certification is optional, and a registered apprenticeship is another route.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, optional certification, and workplace: research labs and schools pay differently from vet clinics. Location and hours matter too; some jobs are part time or include nights, weekends, or holidays.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($46,670), lowest in Mississippi ($30,360).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,120 | $38,150 | $49,150 | about 127,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | about 2,000 |
| California | $46,260 | about 16,000 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | about 3,000 |
| Maine | $45,510 | about 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: 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).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretaker
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-9096.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY