The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Ames, IA is $34,580 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $35,520.
Pay spans roughly $28,340 at the 10th percentile to $44,170 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $16.63 per hour. An estimated 70 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Ames, IA.
| Median (annual) | $34,580 |
| Mean (annual) | $35,520 |
| Median (hourly) | $16.63 |
| 10th percentile | $28,340 |
| 90th percentile | $44,170 |
| Employment | 70 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.