Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in California
$47,250avg. a year
$22.72 an hour · 16,080 employed
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California earn an average of $47,250 a year. That is $6,910 (17%) more than the U.S. average of $40,340. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $52,310.
$46,260Median pay
$22.72Average hourly
+33%Avg. pay since 2020
#3Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers by metro area. Swipe to see all 22.
1620 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$52,310
$25.15 an hour
22,150 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$52,120
$25.06 an hour
31,740 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$50,260
$24.16 an hour
4200 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$48,250
$23.20 an hour
550 jobs
Napa, CA
$47,640
$22.91 an hour
6350 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$47,490
$22.83 an hour
74,830 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$46,530
$22.37 an hour
81,970 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$46,530
$22.37 an hour
9160 jobs
Salinas, CA
$46,350
$22.28 an hour
10130 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$45,390
$21.82 an hour
11210 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$45,080
$21.67 an hour
12480 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$44,760
$21.52 an hour
13230 jobs
Modesto, CA
$44,580
$21.43 an hour
1450 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$43,920
$21.11 an hour
151,270 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$43,670
$20.99 an hour
16120 jobs
Chico, CA
$43,490
$20.91 an hour
1780 jobs
Redding, CA
$43,460
$20.90 an hour
18170 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$43,250
$20.80 an hour
1950 jobs
Merced, CA
$42,690
$20.52 an hour
20230 jobs
Fresno, CA
$42,660
$20.51 an hour
21180 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$41,810
$20.10 an hour
2270 jobs
Visalia, CA
$41,170
$19.80 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $36k$36k–$38k$38k–$43k$43k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| California | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| Oregon | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| Arizona | $40,630 | $19.54 |
| Nevada | $39,200 | $18.84 |
Related jobs in California
- Medical Assistants$55,100
- Dental Assistants$54,710
- Phlebotomists$56,600
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$56,100
- Massage Therapists$55,630
- Medical Equipment Preparers$65,100
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in California?
The average is $47,250 a year, and the median is $46,260. That is $6,910 (17%) more than the U.S. average of $40,340.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$22.72 an hour on average; the median is $22.24.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,310), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($52,120). The lowest average among 22 metro areas with data is Visalia, CA ($41,170).
How does California rank?
California ranks #3 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 31-9096. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.