The average salary for a veterinary assistant in California is around $46,260 per year.
Avg Salary
Veterinary assistants earn an average yearly salary of $46,260.
Wages typically start from $37,800 and go up to $57,940.
42% below national average Updated in 2025
Veterinary assistant earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$27.86 per hour
$57,940 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$23.70 per hour
$49,290 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$22.24 per hour
$46,260 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$19.12 per hour
$39,760 per year
10th percentile
Starting level veterinary assistant earnings begin at:
$18.17 per hour
$37,800 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 California. On average, they make less than dental assistants but more than home health aides.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Dental assistant salary | $50K |
| Orderly salary | $50K |
| Psychiatric aide salary | $48K |
| Exterminator salary | $47K |
| Medical transcriptionist salary | $45K |
| Veterinary assistant salary | $46K |
| Animal caretaker salary | $39K |
| Home health aide salary | $34K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)