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Veterinary assistant salary in California

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$46,260median pay per year in California, or $22.24 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $39,76025th percentile
  3. $46,260median
  4. $49,29075th percentile
  5. $57,940top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $38,150[3]

The median pay for veterinary assistants in California was $46,260 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $8,110 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
16,080[4]
Rank by median pay
4 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+21.3%[6]

How much do veterinary assistants make in California?

The median means half of veterinary assistants in California earned more than $46,260 a year and half earned less[1]. That works out to $22.24 an hour[1]. Across the US the median was $38,150[3], so California sat $8,110, or 21.3%, above it[6]. California had the 4th highest median among the 50 states and DC with a published figure[5]. For all jobs in the state the median was $58,240[7], and veterinary assistants earned $11,980 less than that[8].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,800 a year[2]. The top 10% earned more than $57,940[2]. The middle half of the pay range ran from $39,760 to $49,290[2].

Among metro areas, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $49,400[9]. Among the metros with the largest job counts, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had a median of $46,070[10]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].

California vs US pay

Pay for veterinary assistants in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$46,260[1]$38,150[3]
Median per hour$22.24[1]$18.34[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$37,800[2]$30,120[12]
Top 10% earn more than$57,940[2]$49,150[12]
Jobs16,080[4]126,580[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for veterinary assistants, and the median pay in each[10].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[10]$46,0704,830
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$49,4002,150
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$46,7201,970
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$46,9901,740
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$44,8101,270
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$49,210620
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$45,530480
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$47,270350

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for veterinary assistants in the states that border California, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[13]$44,3703,170
Arizona$38,2503,340
Nevada$36,9201,380

Median pay for veterinary assistants in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for veterinary assistants are projected to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a veterinary assistant make in California?
The median pay was $46,260 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $47,250[16].
How much does a veterinary assistant make an hour in California?
The median was $22.24 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $18.17 an hour[2][17]. The top 10% earned more than $27.86 an hour[2][17].
Which city in California pays veterinary assistants the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $49,400 a year[9].
Is California a good state for veterinary assistants?
California had the 4th highest median for this job among the 50 states and DC with a published figure[5]. Its median was $8,110 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a veterinary assistant in California?
These are US figures, not California ones. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, no related work experience, and short-term on-the-job training[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California was $46,260 per year and $22.24 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California: 10th percentile $37,800, 25th percentile $39,760, 75th percentile $49,290, 90th percentile $57,940. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the US as a whole was $38,150 per year and $18.34 per hour, with about 126,580 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 16,080 people worked as Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 4th highest median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California ($46,260) was $8,110 (21.3%) higher than the US median ($38,150). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California was $11,980 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 22 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $49,400. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the US: 10th percentile $30,120, 25th percentile $35,660, 75th percentile $45,710, 90th percentile $49,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $44,370; Arizona $38,250; Nevada $36,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is projected to grow 9.1% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 23,200 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California was $47,250 per year and $22.72 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California: 10th percentile $18.17, 25th percentile $19.12, 75th percentile $23.70, 90th percentile $27.86. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.