Veterinary Assistant Salary
The average veterinary assistant salary is $23,130.00, but as you work in the field and gain experience, your salary can increase commensurate with your experience level. Some veterinarians will have the veterinary assistant run the office, completing a large number of administrative tasks, along with taking care of the patients as they arrive and getting them ready for a visit with the veterinarian.
2026 Salary Overview
The median annual wage for veterinary assistants was $23,130 in May 2025. This represents the middle point where half of workers earned more and half earned less. Actual salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, education, and the specific type of veterinary practice.
Best Prospects
The highest paid veterinary assistants were those working in the state of Massachusetts, with an average salary of $32,040. Higher salaries are routinely offered for jobs with universities, as high as $32,310, and animal research facilities. The lower wage earners routinely worked for social advocacy organizations - as low as $23,000. About 90% of veterinary assistants currently working in the field are earning salaries in the range of $23,600.
Education and Training Requirements
Typical Entry-Level Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience: None required
On-the-job Training: Short-term on-the-job training
Most veterinary assistants learn their skills through on-the-job training. Training usually lasts a few months and covers animal handling and restraint, sterilization of instruments, laboratory work, and record keeping. However, some employers prefer assistants who have completed veterinary assistant programs at postsecondary institutions.
Job Outlook
Some veterinarian offices work with household pets like cats and dogs while other veterinarian practices cover larger animals including horses, cows, pigs, goats and sheep. Some veterinarians have dedicated jobs in zoos and this can be a very rewarding career for the right candidate. The job outlook is that the field will grow by 10% by 2022.
Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to be driven by continued demand for veterinary services and an increasing pet population.
Work Environment
Veterinary assistants work mainly in private clinics and animal hospitals. Some work in boarding kennels, animal shelters, rescue leagues, and zoos. The work can be physically and emotionally demanding. Workers may be bitten, scratched, or kicked by animals, and they may have to deal with the death of animals.
Salary Trends Over Time
The chart below shows how veterinary assistant salaries have changed over the years, from 2015 to 2026. You can select a specific state to see localized trends or view the national average.
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Salary by State
The following table shows veterinary assistant salary data by state, including the lowest 10%, median, highest 10%, and average salaries.
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