The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $38,470 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $40,210.
Pay spans roughly $34,640 at the 10th percentile to $47,840 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $18.50 per hour. An estimated 2,640 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $38,470 |
| Mean (annual) | $40,210 |
| Median (hourly) | $18.50 |
| 10th percentile | $34,640 |
| 90th percentile | $47,840 |
| Employment | 2,640 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.