Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the United States earn a median salary of $38,150 per year — about $18 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 118K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +9%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core duties of this occupation are almost entirely physical and manual, involving the handling, feeding, and restraining of live animals in unpredictable environments. While AI might assist with peripheral administrative tasks or diagnostic data entry, it cannot replace the physical presence and manual dexterity required for animal care, sterilization, and surgical assistance.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HIBEST VALUE | $49,200 | Above avg (107.2) | $45,899 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $39,160 | Below avg (87.9) | $44,557 |
| Ithaca, NY | $43,900 | Average (99.5) | $44,108 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,910 | Above avg (104.3) | $44,016 |
| Yuba City, CA | $45,490 | Above avg (103.8) | $43,834 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $44,530 | Average (101.9) | $43,697 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,210 | Above avg (113.1) | $43,526 |
| Salem, OR | $44,460 | Average (102.5) | $43,393 |
| Modesto, CA | $45,560 | Above avg (105.1) | $43,338 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $37,770 | Below avg (87.2) | $43,324 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $42,590 | Average (98.4) | $43,301 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,150 | Above avg (104.4) | $43,266 |
| Bozeman, MT | $42,740 | Average (99.0) | $43,169 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $44,140 | Average (102.4) | $43,098 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,990 | Above avg (109.1) | $43,074 |
Education & Requirements
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