Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in California
In California, the median pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is $22.24 an hour ($46,260 a year). About 16,080 people work in this job there.
That is 21% higher than the U.S. median ($38,150). California ranks 4th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.17 | $37,800 |
| 25% of workers | $19.12 | $39,760 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.24 | $46,260 |
| 75% of workers | $23.70 | $49,290 |
| 90% of workers | $27.86 | $57,940 |
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $49,400 | 2,150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $49,210 | 620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $47,270 | 350 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $47,150 | 200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $46,990 | 1,740 |
| Salinas | $46,990 | 160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $46,720 | 1,970 |
| Vallejo | $46,590 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $46,070 | 4,830 |
| Napa | $45,710 | 50 |
| Modesto | $45,560 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $45,530 | 480 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $45,490 | 210 |
| Yuba City | $45,490 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $44,810 | 1,270 |
| Fresno | $44,040 | 230 |
| Redding | $43,930 | 80 |
| Chico | $43,830 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $43,270 | 170 |
| Merced | $40,040 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $39,850 | 180 |
| Visalia | $38,410 | 70 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +9.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 23,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | $49,660 |
| Nursing Assistants | $47,630 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,750 |
| Animal Caretakers | $38,700 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians | $46,380 |
| Phlebotomists | $56,040 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,630 |
| Paramedics | $74,590 |
Other job titles for this job
Open veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.