The average salary for a veterinary assistant in the United States is around $38,150 per year.
Avg Salary
Veterinary assistants earn an average yearly salary of $38,150.
Wages typically start from $30,120 and go up to $49,150.
41% below national average Updated in 2025
Veterinary assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$23.63 per hour
$49,150 per year
Senior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$21.98 per hour
$45,710 per year
Mid-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$18.34 per hour
$38,150 per year
Junior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$17.15 per hour
$35,660 per year
Starting level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$14.48 per hour
$30,120 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 | $18,260 |
How do veterinary assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Veterinary assistants earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than medical assistants but more than home health aides.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical assistant salary | $46K |
| Psychiatric aide salary | $45K |
| Phlebotomist salary | $45K |
| Medical transcriptionist salary | $40K |
| Orderly salary | $38K |
| Veterinary assistant salary | $38K |
| Animal caretaker salary | $35K |
| Home health aide salary | $36K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)