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Veterinary assistant salary in Florida

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$37,830median pay per year in Florida, or $18.19 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,16025th percentile
  3. $37,830median
  4. $44,93075th percentile
  5. $47,270top 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 Florida was $37,830 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $320 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in FL
6,790[4]
Rank by median pay
20 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−0.8%[6]

How much do veterinary assistants make in Florida?

Half of veterinary assistants in Florida earned more than $37,830 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $18.19 an hour[1]. The average was a bit higher at $40,030 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $38,150, so Florida sat 0.8% below it[3][6]. Florida had the 20th highest median among the 50 states and DC[5]. For all jobs in the state, the median was $47,880, which is $10,050 more than for veterinary assistants[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of veterinary assistants in Florida earned less than $31,090 a year[2]. The top 10% earned more than $47,270[2]. The middle half of the group fell between $36,160 and $44,930[2]. About 6,790 people held these jobs in the state[4].

By metro area, Naples-Marco Island had the highest median at $45,470[10]. Among the metros with the largest job counts, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach had a median of $38,340[11]. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin had a median of $42,590[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Florida vs US pay

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

FLUS
Median per year$37,830[1]$38,150[3]
Median per hour$18.19[1]$18.34[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$31,090[2]$30,120[13]
Top 10% earn more than$47,270[2]$49,150[13]
Jobs6,790[4]126,580[3]

Pay by metro area in Florida

Metro areas in Florida with the most jobs for veterinary assistants, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL[11]$38,3401,440
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL$38,0001,110
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$37,220720
Jacksonville, FL$37,710620
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL$37,870220
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL$36,680210
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL$38,030210
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL$42,590200

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for veterinary assistants in the states that border Florida, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Georgia[14]$35,8504,570
Alabama$35,8001,240

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[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a veterinary assistant make in Florida?
The median was $37,830 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $40,030 a year[7].
How much does a veterinary assistant make an hour in Florida?
The median was $18.19 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $14.95 an hour and the 90th percentile was $22.73[17].
Which city in Florida pays veterinary assistants the most?
Naples-Marco Island had the highest median of the 19 Florida metro areas with a published figure, at $45,470 a year[10].
Is Florida a good state for veterinary assistants?
Florida had the 20th highest median wage for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median of $37,830 was $320 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a veterinary assistant in Florida?
These are US figures, not Florida ones. Across the US, the typical entry path is a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience, and short-term on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Florida was $37,830 per year and $18.19 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 Florida: 10th percentile $31,090, 25th percentile $36,160, 75th percentile $44,930, 90th percentile $47,270. 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 6,790 people worked as Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Florida (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Florida had the 20th 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 Florida ($37,830) was $320 (0.8%) lower than the US median ($38,150). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Florida was $40,030 per year and $19.24 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Florida was $47,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Florida was $10,050 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 19 metro areas in or partly in Florida with a published median for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, Naples-Marco Island, FL had the highest median annual wage, $45,470. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in states that border Florida (highest first): Georgia $35,850; Alabama $35,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Florida: 10th percentile $14.95, 25th percentile $17.38, 75th percentile $21.60, 90th percentile $22.73. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Florida. 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.