The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California is $45,470 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $46,500.
Pay spans roughly $37,230 at the 10th percentile to $58,550 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $21.86 per hour. An estimated 14,960 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in California.
| Median (annual) | $45,470 |
| Mean (annual) | $46,500 |
| Median (hourly) | $21.86 |
| 10th percentile | $37,230 |
| 90th percentile | $58,550 |
| Employment | 14,960 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.